Decks, Patios, Porches and Docks - deck post options???

Would like different opinions on ways to build my deck foundations. I live in Canada where the frost line is 36". I don't want to reallly pour 4 feet of concrete so I am looking for alternative ways.
1.I have heard of 4 feet hole, pour 1 foot concrete foot and then put post in and back fill with stone. I am afraid of this way because if the post rises even one inch stone will fall under the post and it cannot be hammered back down.
2. Dig 4 foot hole put screening in bottom, put post in and then back fill with screening. Sounds good but wondering about base of post sinking into soil.

I am kind of thinking of 4 foot hole, pour 1 ft concrete footing and then back fill with screening that way it would be easier to hammer down if the post does heave. Any other ideas or suggestions Thanks

If your municipality permits it, you could always use deck blocks or deck piers. Ive generally heard good things from people who have used them.

I thought if the frost line was 36" you only had to dig to the frost line for your footers(Im not a pro though, so I could be mistaken).

Even so if you do have to go 4 feet, I would just build forms and pour concrete in them. It's generally cheaper then using posts. The key is to have the concrete delivered, don't try mixing that yourself!

A 4 foot deep form with a 12x12x12 footer and 8" round/ 36" high tube is ~2 cu ft of concrete. If you got a yard of cement delivered you could get at least a dozen of those in place.

If your footing only has to be 12" square, but the bottom of it has to be down 36", then just dig a 12" square hole that is 3' deep and fill it with concrete. Use a Simpson post case at the top of the wet concrete, and attach your post to that.

The idea is to NOT embed a wood post in the ground, or concrete, or rocks -- IT'LL ROT!!