Didn't know how much I didn't know.

A few years back my folks, avid kayakers, and year round campers... even if they do so out of a Roadtrek dragged me up to Madison Wisconsin with them to Canoecopia a paddler's trade show/convention.

Now I've never been much of a paddler, I take one or two trips down a river a year but it's not really my passion, so much back and forth most of the time. I'd rather hike, or bike, and camp... but I digress... at Canoecopia I ran into the Eagles Nest Outfitter's stall... and I was sold.

Bought me a Singlenest, started camping with it, love the thing, been camping with it since. The next year I bought myself a Doublenest (the singlenest was fine, still is, I use it from time to time but I liked the bigger one), a bugnet, tarp and what not from the ENO stall at Canoecopia, that was probably two years ago and I haven't upgraded my gear since then.

Still I didn't even know how little I knew about hammock camping till earlier this week, I never heard the term "topquilt", "underquilt", or "whoopie-sling". My brother who transplanted himself from the Midwest to Virginia called me planning a big camping trip into the mountains. So I thought to myself to look online to see if there were any tips or tricks I didn't know, or should know as I planned on taking my hammock gear. I found Shug's video series for Newbs, and I found this place. I never knew how much about hanging I never knew. I never even considered winter camping in a hammock before two days ago. Shame on me.

Now I know how much I don't know, and I know where I can learn. I look forward to it.

I have been to Canoecopia, great show. Welcome.

No shame at all! Welcome to the cool side of camping.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by canoebie

I have been to Canoecopia, great show. Welcome.

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Oh it is a good show, bought my current bike from the ajoining Bike-o-Rama show. Wish it has a bit more camping gear to pick through, but it is geared to the paddlers.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by lori

No shame at all! Welcome to the cool side of camping.

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Thank you both for the welcome.

I don't think it is unreasonable to suggest that this site is one place a lot of manufactures watch because of the creativity and professionalism of a lot of the members here. Even the legendary Tom Hennessey seems to picked up a few "new ideas" from what has been developed on these forums.

Welcome. More midwest folks showing themselves. I just saw this one, too. You live a little farther from me, but not too far from Mississippi Palisades. we'll all have to get together some time.

Jerry

Welcome to the forum, yhe info you will find here is great....you will learn something new here every time you log on.

Take care,
Bluefin 774

Welcome to the forum. I was in your position just six months ago. Its a great forum with too many cool idea's, DIY, and support. A good group.

Welcome to the forum. The title of your post struck a chord with me. Friends and family often hear me say "you don't know what you don't know."

Isn't it great to discover this forum and start learning what you didn't know you needed to learn? :confused:

A Whoooooooo Buddy Welcome FalseAesop and welcome to your Master Class!
Shug

Thanks everyone. And yeah Jerry that sounds great, been out to the Palisades a number of times, good park, nice trails, good overlooks, fantastic change of pace from typical Illinois terrain. Always wished I could get in on one of their 'primitive' sites along the back trails but they're always full.

Haven't been out there in awhile though, I used to work out in Mount Carrol around the Halloween season at the Raven's Grin Inn and would camp out at the Palisades or Timber Lake.

I will tell you this now though, I work as a book binder for a company whose business is primarily yearbooks, so my free time is shot from now to June. Gotta get them books out to the kiddies yaknow (Still I try to snag a weekend in Rock Cut now and then). I'd be all for a meet up later in the year though.