April 2012 – Alpine Shop Blog

April 27, 2012

Mother’s Day Gift Guide 2012

Make this a Mother’s Day to never forget…

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas:

1 – Aventura – Peyton Dress

2 – Chaco – Tanana Flip

3 – Eagle Creek – Marta Bag

4 – Haiku – Jaunt Bag

5 – Horny Toad – Rosemarie Dress

6 – Jillery – Jewelry Mix Metal Trile Thick Ring Earrings

7 – Kavu – Keeper Bag

8 – Life Is Good – I Dig Everything Tee

9 – Merrell – Henna Sandal

10 – Overland – Bayliss Bag

11 – Patagonia – Margot Dress

12 – Pistil – Whisper Scarf

13 – Reef Brazil – Braided Cushion Sandal

14 – SkirtSports – Gym Girl Ultra Skirt

15 – Smartwool – Socks*

16 – Ugg – Kayla Sandal

*Smartwool Socks Mother’s Day Special – Buy 3 pairs of Smartwool socks and receive a complimentary reusable gift bag while supplies last.

April 27, 2012

The Continued Effort to Create Missouri’s Premiere Trail

This weekend, Alpine Shop and the Ozark Trail Association will host their ninth annual Mega Event on the Ozark Trail.

Many of us at Alpine Shop can still remember John Roth, the OTA’s founder, walking into the upstairs offices at our old Webster Groves store in 2002 and 2003, discussing plans for his vision of the OT and the organization he was founding.

2003 Alpine Shop and OTA Ad — Alpine Shop's 2003 Advertisement in our Spring Swap Guide introducing the Ozark Trail and the OT to its customers.

Alpine Shop helped design the first maps the OTA gave out. We helped introduce the OTA in a full-page ad in our 2003 Spring Swap Guide when almost no one knew what the Ozark Trail was, let alone an organization created with the sole purpose of finishing its creation and maintaining it.

Alpine Shop used its first Patagonia environmental grant to support the OTA in 2004 in a presentation during the intermission of the Banff Mountain Film Festival. At that festival, we announced and recruited the first of what would become the Spring OTA Mega Event. Throughout the years, the Mega Events have grown bigger and now include working with many of the Shop’s brands to come up with more than $12,000 in give-aways, auction items and donations each and every year.

For some multinational business that might not sound like a lot, but we’re a local business. “Local” is a vital part of our DNA. We do everything we can to transform our little slice of world here in the Midwest into a better place. Alpine Shop’s vision states that we strive for “Generations Transformed by Discovery Outdoors.” We believe that experiencing the outdoors fundamentally changes each and every one of us.

This is why the OTA is so dear to Alpine Shop. It’s a part of our creed to be a “Local Business Helping Local Organizations Transform Our World.” What better example of that is there than our relationship with the OTA? By transforming the Ozark Trail into the premiere trail throughout Missouri, the OTA has provided the perfect opportunity for generations of Missourians to transform their lives in the local beauty of the Ozarks.

So, this weekend, as nearly 200 people work to complete another section of the Ozark Trail, we send out and open invitation for a new generation to transform themselves in the discovery of this gem right in our own backyard.

April 24, 2012

Would You Help Us Put a Smile on a Child’s Face?

Operation Smile Bracelets from Sanuk — All profits from the sale of these bracelets goes toward helping Operation Smile put smiles on the faces of children born with cleft palate or cleft lip/

“SMILE, Pass it on!” That’s the tagline for one of Alpine Shop’s favorite footwear brands, Sanuk.

Sanuk wants to make people smile by being comfortable in their shoes all day long. Then, you can pass along that smile to the next person, and so on! Along these lines, Sanuk is working to help a not-for-profit called Operation Smile. Operation Smile is an international children’s medical charity that provides free surgery for children born with a cleft palate, cleft lips or other facial deformity. These deformities do not need to go uncorrected. Operation Smile has a long history of changing kids’ lives by simply restoring a smile.

In order to help raise money for Operation Smile, we are selling the “Operation Smile, Pass It On” bracelets at all Alpine Shop locations and on-line at alpineshop.com. They are only 4 bucks, and Sanuk is donating 100% of it’s net profit of this wonderful organization.

So, come in, buy a bracelet, smile and pass it on!”

April 18, 2012

Top 20 Outdoor Family Destinations Near St. Louis and Columbia, Missouri

St. Louis and Columbia are amazing locations for outdoor adventures with your children. With our two cities as your base camp, you have access to miles upon miles of wilderness featuring trails, rivers, springs, caves, forests, bluffs, rock formations, waterfalls and more. Set your sights within just two hours of our metro areas and we have more opportunities than we can possibly tell you here. Best of all, many of these locations are absolutely free for your family for a day visit. A camping trip may cost you as little as $10 for the night.

Each of the areas we have listed below have the potential to provide your children (and you) with experiences that will last a lifetime. We may not have the dramatic mountain silhouettes of the Rockies or the crashing waves of the ocean; but we do have the beauty of the Ozark Mountains, spring-fed rivers that run stunningly, perfectly clear and a vast system of caves that appeal to every child. Best of all, because of our Midwestern geography, most of our outdoor destinations are surprisingly kid-friendly.

So if you’re looking for some ideas for a new adventure for you and your kids, we’ve included a list of our top choices below. Some are nearby. Some are further away. But all of them offer families a chance to have fun and experience the great outdoors.

Camping Adventures

Meramec State Park, Sullivan, MO – The absolute gem for camping and outdoor adventures for kids. Trails, beaches on the river, and over 75 caves and numerous springs.
Onondaga Cave State Park, Leasburg, MO – Camping, cave tours, canoeing. Great place for a long weekend.
Silver Mines Recreation Area, Fredericktown, MO – One of Missouri’s unknown wonders. Explore an old dam. Watch whitewater kayakers make their way through the St. Francis River rapids. The Missouri Whitewater Championships are held upstream of this location each March.

Hiking & Exploring Adventures

Rockwoods Reservation, Eureka, MO – Trails for hikers of all ages and skill levels as well as wildlife exhibits. Plenty of picnic grounds and fields for group meals.
Powder Valley Nature Center, Kirkwood, MO – Easy to get to, incredible nature center, easy trails. Great local asset.
Amidon Conservation Area near Fredericktown, MO – The Castor River Shut-ins here is one of Missouri’s best play spots for kids both young and old. (Shhhh! It’s a secret!)
Pickle Springs Natural Area near Farmington, MO – Short length, incredible rock formations, fun for everybody!
Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Columbia, MO – Diverse trail network for hiking or mountain biking, or plenty of space for a nice weather picnic as well. And for a true adventure, explore Devil’s Icebox on a park-led tour.

Paddling Adventures

Simpson Lake County Park, Valley Park, MO – A local, hidden gem just off Highway 141. Bring a bird guidebook, a canoe and fishing poles.
Meramec River, Consider launching your boat near Steelville, Leasburg or Sullivan for best water quality and natural beauty. Besides the Missouri and the Mississippi, probably the most recognized river in the area – and the easiest to access.
Huzzah Creek, Leasburg, MO – (Hoo-za) More advanced young paddlers can take off on their own sit-on-top kayaks (rented through numerous outfitters) on this gorgeous clearwater gem which drains into the Meramec near Leasburg, MO
Missouri River, West and South of Columbia, MO – Experience the same river Lewis and Clark explored; offers great opportunities for experienced paddlers.

Rock Climbing Adventures

Okay, we’re cheating on some of these here. Some aren’t really outdoors. They’re climbing gyms. But, the skills learned here could very well lead to the ability to tackle the real rock walls of the area.
Center of Clayton Climbing Gym – Clatyon, MO – Geared towards kids more than any other gym in St. Louis.
Upper Limits Climbing Gym – St. Louis, MO – Best overall climbing gym in the area.
Capen Park – Columbia, MO – Close to campus and featuring some good top roping and sport routes.
University of Missouri – Columbia Climbing Wall – Columbia, MO – Open to University Students and Staff

Biking Adventures

Grant’s Trail in South County, St. Louis – Flat, easy, and even at its most crowded is still enjoyable. And now the trail starts almost in our Kirkwood store’s backyard!
Katy Trail, beginning in St. Charles, MO – One-day trips to week-long adventures on 235 miles of bike trail between St. Charles and Clinton, MO.
Lost Valley Trail in the Weldon Springs Conservation Area in St. Charles – Fabulous for both hiking and biking with clear creeks and miles of wooded, flat trails.
Forest Park, St. Louis, MO – Local, with a myriad of opportunities for other activities.
MKT Trail, Columbia, MO – Another rails to trails project, but runs right through Columbia for some easy, family-friendly riding.

April 11, 2012

Grab a 20% off Coupon Just for Bringing Your Used Gear In to Swap

The Swap Tent is up in Kirkwood and our Swap Center is ready in Columbia and we are accepting used items during normal business hours through Friday, April 13 at 5 pm.

Swap Tent in Kirkwood, MO — Are you ready to swap? The Midwest's largest outdoor gear exchange begins Friday, April 13 in St. Louis and Columbia

Bring in your bike and your kayak, or your skis and snowboard along with camping gear and that jog stroller you haven’t used lately. Throw in a few pieces of clothing and your ready to roll. Your first ten items are absolutely free to enter into the Swap. After the 10th item, each additional item is $1. To help reduce your check-in time, please download and print this form, fill it out as much as you can and bring it with you.

To thank you for participating, everyone who checks in used gear receives a coupon good for 20% off one clothing or footwear item on that day!

For more information about Swap Check-In Procedures, please visit our Swap info headquarters here.