Hi, my name is Ron . I got my smoker a year ago, and this site helped me wade through a lot of the choices out there. To start I figured a gas smoker would be the best way to learn. Last summer, I spent every weekend I could in the backyard, tossing chunks of alder in my grill-pro vertical gas smoker. Nice work if you can get it. I decided to join the forum now because, as I write this my new napoleon charcoal smoker, is on its way; and I expect I have a lot of learning to do. Just to explain I was looking at a WSM, of course but I got a great deal on the napoleon ($219), with free shipping. Since home depot is a four hour return drive plus a ferry ride away, free shipping tipped the balance. I live on a island off the north end of Vancourver island , which is off the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. You could say I'm about half way between Vancouver,BC and Alaska, if that's any help to you. I've joined now so I can ask questions, as I learn to charcoal smoke. And I want to try more difficult smokes like brisket. I'll add that I'm not to the level of technical know how to upload photos, so for now, I won't be posting any pictures of food, I'll be too busy eating it. You may wonder how a 49 year old Canadian came to the wonderful world of barbecue cooking? When I was in my early teens, on a family trip to Myrtle Beach,SC., somewhere in rural North Carolina, I ate barbecue, and I loved it. There's not many barbecue joints around these parts, so I have to make it myself. I'm still learning, so I will probably post more questions, than answers. But I'm happy to share what I've learned so far, if it helps.
