News/Updates – Page 14 – Alpine Shop Blog

July 18, 2011

Alpine Shop Named St. Louis’ Best for Athletic Gear

2011 St. Louis Magzine A-List Readers' Pick Winner

In St. Louis, the best place to find workout and athletic gear is Alpine Shop, according to the readers of St. Louis Magazine. The 2011 A-List Readers’ Picks included the following description:

What began as a Webster Groves climbing shop in 1973 has expanded into three locations and been recognized as one of the nation’s top 25 independent outdoor specialty retailers. Talk about ascending to new heights.

We’re extremely honored to be not only included in this list, but also to be the readers’ top pick. We have always worked to give our customers the best selection in everything from expedition gear to everyday wear. Evidently we’re doing something right featuring great products from brands such as: Patagonia, The North Face, Marmot, Smartwool, Icebreaker, SkirtSports, Under Armour, Vibram Five Fingers and many, many more.

While we’re obviously pleased, we also realize that to keep our standing as St. Louis’ best choice for workout and athletic gear we need to continue to maintain our own high standards. If you have recommendations for products or brands you’d like to see us carry, please let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook page.

If you’d like to take a look at some of the athletic gear and workout wear we carry in our stores for both men and women, we invite you to take a look either on-line at alpineshop.com or at any of our three locations.

Hopefully, you’ll discover the same thing that made the readers of St. Louis magazine name us the 2011 A-List Readers’ Pick for athletic and workout gear.

July 18, 2011

Get Outdoors: Mobilizing America’s Youth through Outdoor Nation

Youth involvement – or lack of involvement – in the great outdoors represents a growing challenge for our nation. As kids concentrate more and more on indoor activities and parents continue to confine their kids to the indoors in fear of potential dangers to their children, an entire generation of Americans is losing its connection with the wild.

We’ve covered this topic before on this blog, with links to information on nature-deficit disorder and the best-selling book Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv. The U.S. government introduced the Let’s Move campaign in 2010 to fight childhood obesity with a major component titled simply Let’s Move Outside. These issues are well documented and solutions can seem to be few and far between.

Outdoor Nation is part of a movement by America’s young adults themselves to combat these issues. In June of 2010, the first Outdoor Nation Summit convened in New York City attended by over 500 delegates from all 50 states. The result of the two-day event was:

…a solid commitment to break down the barriers to the outdoors – not just for (young adults), but for everyone. We love to prove the stereotypes false!

In “official” terms,

Created by The Outdoor Foundation and supported by a diverse coalition of public, private and not-for-profit partners, Outdoor Nation and its community of Outsiders are committed to increasing and expanding youth participation through entertainment, education, engagement and action – especially among urban communities and communities of color – resulting in a healthier, more active generation.

In 2011, five Outdoor Nation summits across the nation are scheduled for the months of June and July. Alpine Shop-Columbia’s Liza Babington was selected as one of the 250 delegates to the Twin Cities Summit held this past weekend in Minneapolis, Minn. In the next week, we’ll be posting her reaction to the experience. Stay tuned!

June 30, 2011

Short Track Dirt Crit Mountain Bike Races Begin Tonight

Weekly mountain bike races begin tonight – Thursday, June 30 – at Castlewood State Park as the Alpine Shop Short Track Dirt Crits kick off the 2011 season. This series of races, part of St. Louis’s Off-Road Racing League, runs for five weeks and features three races each night.

Mountain bike racers of all abilities are welcome! Choose your race based on your ability: A- Expert, B-Sport and C-Novice/beginners. Each category follows the same course. The difference is in how long the race lasts. The A racers lasts 45 minutes plus two laps. B race goes for 25 minutes plus two laps and the C race lasts 15 minutes plus two laps.

At the time of posting, registrations were full for the 6/30 races; but spots were still available for the following races. If you’re interested in participating, please click here for on-line registration.

Following the races, all participants are invited to partake of some fantastic food from The Wolf Public House, including beverages from New Belgium Brewery.

Alpine Shop has some drool-worthy prizes to give away all series long for both participants and spectators alike. Just stop by our tent to find out more.

For more information on the series, please visit the Off-Road Racing League page. And if mountain bikes aren’t really your thing, be sure to check out the Trail Run part of the Off-Road Racing League. That series begins Thursday, August 4 (or the week after the mountain bike races have finished)!

June 23, 2011

Yakima Offering Up to $50 Rebate on a New Rack

If you’re thinking about grabbing a new rack this summer, now’s the time to do it. Yakima is offering up to a $50 rebate on any new rack in it’s lineup and you can take advantage of this deal at any Alpine Shop location or on-line at alpineshop.com.

The details work like this:

Buy a new Yakima rack between June 24 and July 24, 2011 and Yakima will put some cash back in your pockets. Or cash back in your purse, if that’s the way you prefer to roll.

Spend $500 or more, get $50 back.
Spend $400 to $499, get $40 back.
Spend $300 to $399, get $30 back.

Anyone wishing to grab onto this deal only needs to print out the form below, fill out the short info requested and attach a receipt or online invoice. Just make sure you mail it in by 8/8/11.

And that’s it. To recap: You get the best roof rack system on the planet with a new Yakima rack you purchase at Alpine Shop. Then, you get money back just because you bought the best roof rack system on the planet and sent in a quick rebate form. The deal starts Friday, June 24, so get racking!

June 21, 2011

Alpine Shop Hosts Hiking Dog Adoption Event

Alpine Shop will host a dog adoption event at our Kirkwood location on Saturday, June 25 from 10 am to 3 pm. This isn’t just any dog adoption event, though. In keeping with our love for everything outdoors, the dogs up for adoption are all part of “Four Directions Hiking” an organization that takes stray rescue dogs and trains them to hike on trails around the St. Louis area with human companions.

These dogs are all athletic, young (but adult) and all available for adoption. (There might be a few puppies, too.)

Join us on Saturday, June 25 from 10 am to 3 pm and find a new hiking partner. And give a great dog a great new home.

June 14, 2011

Dads: Get Your Kids Outdoors & You Could Win Gift Cards

Dads – Get your kids outside this Father’s Day and you could win a part of a $500 jackpot in Alpine Shop gift cards. The challenge is simple: we’re inviting all Dads to bring their families outside to play. Take a picture of you with them outside. Post it on our facebook page by midnight, Sunday, June 19, 2011. We’ll select random winners from all of our Dad photos on Monday, June 20.

Studies continue to show the need for Dads (and Moms) to bring their little ones outside, to get them back in touch with mother nature. Books have been written about it. States across our nation are actively trying to figure out ways to get kids off the couch and back outside, including Missouri. So Dads, while we encourage you to take a hike in a nearby park, to get out in canoe or kayak, or even to ride your bike; really, we just hope you’ll breathe some non-air-conditioned air for at least a little while to celebrate your Father’s Day. If you need some ideas for a Dad’s Day adventure, we’re happy to provide you a few of our favorite family-friendly escapes at the bottom of this article.

As we did for our Mother’s Day contest, we will accept photos from the past for those Dads who can not be with your family – or vice versa.

And for those of you looking for some last minute Father’s Day gifts, Alpine Shop has a huge selection of presents perfect for any outdoor-loving Dad.

As promised, here are some great kid-friendly adventures in and within 2 hours of St. Louis. Get to it, Dad!

Hiking and 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!)
Johnson’s Shut-ins State Park near Lesterville, Mo. (and the Ozark Trail that runs through it) – One of Missouri’s most popular state parks. If you come on a weekend during the summer, prepare for crowds at Mother Nature’s waterpark.
Pickle Springs Natural Area near Farmington, Mo. – Short length, incredible rock formations, fun for everybody!

Camping Adventures:

Meramec State Park, Sullivan, Mo. – The absolute gem for camping and outdoor adventures for families. 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.

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 put-ins 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..

Biking

Grant’s Trail in South County, St. Louis – Flat, easy, and even at its most crowded is still enjoyable.
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.

Happy Father’s Day to all of our adventure-loving Dads!

June 3, 2011

Press Coverage from the American Rivers Press Conference

Alpine Shop hosted the May 17 press conference to announce American Rivers had named the Ozark National Scenic Riverways one of the 10 Most Endangered Rivers in America.

Below are two of the reports that the event generated. More are sure to come.

While most Missourians equate the park – and the Current and Jack Fork’s Rivers that it contains – with floating, there are many other activities in and around the park for everyone to enjoy. Find out more about the sights and activities of the park in this blog post here.

Webster Kirkwood Times Coverage of the American Rivers Press Conference at Alpine Shop — You can find this artcicle by Don Corrigan at websterkirkwoodtimes.com.

This article from Don Corrigan of the Webster Kirkwood Times was published on Friday, June 3, 2011.

KMOX's coverage of the American Rivers 5/17/11 Press Conference at Alpine Shop — You can find this article at cbsstl.com.

This article was published by KMOX radio and cbsstl.com on May 17, 2011.

May 27, 2011

Wigwam and Alpine Shop Pitch in to Help Tornado Victims

Wigwam-AS-Tornado-promo-052511 — Pass the word along. While supplies last, for every two pair of Wigwam socks you purchase, Wigwam will donate a pair to Missouri Tornado Victims.

While Wigwam has supplies to do it, they are offering a special promotion to help out Missouri’s tornado victims. All you have to do is purchase two pair of any Wigwam socks at any Alpine Shop. Wigwam will take care of donating a third pair directly to those in need. This promotion is not being run with any other merchants.

Drop by your local Alpine Shop and help us help them this weekend.

Thanks.

May 17, 2011

Video from American Rivers/Ozark National Scenic Riverway Press Conference

On Tuesday, May 17, Alpine Shop Kirkwood hosted a press conference organized by American Rivers, Friends of Ozark Riverways and Ozark Fly Fishers. The purpose of this publicity event was to announce that American Rivers – a national organization that protects and restores the nation’s rivers and the clean water that sustains people, wildlife, and nature – had named Missouri’s Ozark National Scenic Riverways one of the 10 Most Endangered Rivers in America.

Below is the press conference in its entirety broken up into four parts. Get informed and visit American Rivers’ Most Endangered List for information on how you can help the cause.

May 16, 2011

Ozark National Scenic Riverways Named One of Nation’s 10 Most Endangered Rivers

Press Advisory:
National Organization Joined by Local Paddlers and Conservationists to Announce Ozarks Riverways among Nation’s Most Endangered Rivers

Press Conference:
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 – 10 a.m.
Alpine Shop
440 N Kirkwood
Kirkwood, Missouri 63122

Representatives speaking include:

Ms. Kally Higgins,
Spokesperson for the Friends of Ozark Riverways – A coalition representing 21 Missouri conservation, fishing, and outdoor organizations.

Mr. J. Gordon Philpott
Board member of the national organization, American Rivers

Ms. Lisa Hollenbeck
Co-owner of Alpine Shop, representative of outdoor industry and Missouri paddlers and recreation enthusiasts

Missouri’s premier national riverway, the Ozark National Scenic Riverways, is being named one of the nation’s ten most threatened riverways in American Rivers annual report released May 17, 2011.

Representatives from many statewide environmental, fishing, paddling, and conservation organizations are joining together to put the National Park Service on notice that the NPS needs to manage the pristine river and parklands with an eye to the future. There are signs that the river so loved by Missourians and millions of visitors each year may be destroyed by pollution, erosion and poor management.

Today’s announcement serves as a wake up call to the National Park Service that Missouri’s largest national park needs to step up its management and address problems in the park that have slowly been eroding the quality of the park.

“We have to do more today to avert the catastrophes of tomorrow,” says Kally Higgins, Friends of Ozarks spokesperson. “ We are seeing visible signs that the health of the Current River is in trouble. For example, we have seen in recent years signs restricting swimming in certain areas because of too high bacteria and we often see riverbanks damaged by erosion where inappropriate access points have sprung up. We want to work with the National Park Service to make sure that these problems are examined, inventoried, and given full environmental review before it prepares its general management plan.”

Next year, the park service will be releasing its 10-year General Management Plan and the conservation community has identified past decisions, policies, and practices that collectively are causing harm to the park resources.

This is the first time that the Current River and its tributaries have been named a threatened riverway on American River’s Endangered Rivers list, which began in 1985.

Photo Opportunities:

The press conference will be held at Alpine Shop with a background of kayak, canoe, and paddling equipment.
Many representatives from the 20 + organizations will be present for comment.
A map that depicts that excessive number of access points along the 132-mile stretch of river will be available.
A 3 minute video that depicts the riverway’s scenic beauty will also be launched on the American Rivers website and the Friends of Ozark Riverways site on the 17^th and B- roll available, upon request.
Photographs of damage to the river will also be available.

Contact:
Rindy O’Brien, Coordinator
Friends of Ozark Riverways,
202-247-5290
314- 621-0230
rindyob@mac.com

Faye Augustyn,
American Rivers,
202-347-7550
faugustyn@americanrivers.org

Kat Logan Smith, Executive Director,
Missouri Coalition for the Environment,
314-727-0600
klogansmith@moenviron.org

Lisa Hollenbeck, Co-Owner
Alpine Shop
314-962-7715
lisah@alpineshop.com