Give a Little. Save Big. Glennon Card Discount Days are October 14-24, 2021

Back in 2011, Alpine Shop was one of the first retailers to sign on to assist SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital with their new “Glennon Card” promotion. Little did we know then just how big this would promotion grow!

When you purchase a Glennon Card – either at Alpine Shop, on on-line at www.glennoncard.org, 100% of your money benefits the kids cared for by SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis. Plus, the Glennon Card also provides you with significant discounts at over 270 retailers, restaurants and salons on-line and in the area (including Alpine Shop!) through Sunday, October 24. With unlimited use for 10 days, it’s easy to recoup the cost of the card. Best of all, 100% of card sales benefit the kids.

Here’s how it works: You can purchase a Glennon Card either in any Alpine Shop location or on-line here for $60 and use it all participating merchants. With your card, you’ll receive a 20% discount on nearly everything in our stores* with the main exception being a 10% discount on full-priced bikes, boats or snowsport hardgoods.

Alpine Shop is proud to have been one of the top Local Merchants for Glennon Card sales over the past five years. Please come in and purchase your Card anytime between now and Sunday, Oct. 24, and be sure to select Alpine Shop as how you heard about the Glennon Card if you purchase a digital card through the on-line checkout here.

2021 GLENNON CARD RULES AND EXCLUSIONS:
Card sharing is strictly prohibited. Since the Glennon Card is a fundraising event to help the sick and injured children cared for at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon, we encourage shoppers to buy their own Glennon Card. Participating retailers will not accept cards unless purchaser has been verified with a valid photo ID.

*20% off promotion applies to the full retail price on in-store apparel, footwear and camping gear only and is not eligible to be combined with other promotions or offers, except for clearance goods (marked with $_.97 pricing) which will be discounted from the lowest-marked price.Hardgoods such as bikes, boats and ski & snowsport hardgoods receive a 10% off discount. Used items for sale in Alpine Shop’s Winter Swap are not eligible for any discount. Select brands and items are excluded. Please see an Alpine Shop outfitter for details.

If you would like to shop on-line with us, please access our site through this link here. You will need the passcode that is either on the second page of the paper Glennon Card or from the information you received through your digital card.

Terrain Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards Voting Going on Now

There’s this great regional publication called Terrain Magazine. Maybe you’ve seen Alpine Shop on the back cover since the publication started back in 2014? Either way, for the past eight years, Terrain has helped bring the message of how great outdoor life can be Missouri and across the Midwest.

And Alpine Shop has been proud to be a part of that journey.

Now is the time of year when Terrain invites its readers to participate in its Readers’ Choice Awards, with questions ranging from Best City/County Park and Best State/National Park, to Best Trail Running Event and Best Outdoor Store. Seriously, there are like 47 different topics you can weigh in on.

As a store that has dedicated its existence to getting generations of people to discover the transformative power of simply getting outside, we are well aware these last couple of years have been difficult to maintain the type of community-based events and get togethers that we have always prided ourselves on hosting. However, we have been encouraged by the sheer number of people that have taken to our area parks, trails, bike paths and rivers as a refuge from everything that has come our way since March 2020. And we’ve been buoyed up by the newcomers coming through our doors looking for the help we love to give.

With that said, we hope we’ve earned a spot or two on your ballot. Whether that’s Best Outdoor Store, or even Best Midwest Outdoor Brand, or Best Trail Running Event (Trail Run Series, maybe?) or even Best Gravel Biking Event (Tour of Hermann Gravel Challenge!); we sincerely appreciate your votes.

And if, for any reason, you feel we haven’t lived up to our – or more importantly YOUR – standards, we would love to hear your thoughts on how we can improve.

Thanks again for your consideration and we hope to see you in one of our stores soon!

2021 Tax Free Weekend

Friday, August 6 through Sunday, August 8, 2021 is Missouri’s Sales Tax Holiday for qualifying back to school purchases. For parents looking to get high quality apparel, shoes and gear that will actually make it through not only this school year, but also years to come, Alpine Shop is the place to shop! 

To qualify, apparel and footwear must be under $100. As long as our price tag says it’s under $100, it qualifies for no state sales tax!

If you’re shopping on-line from outside Missouri, you already won’t have to pay any sales tax. If you’re inside Missouri state lines, the same qualifications are in effect for you as if you stepped inside one of our stores.

On the subject of school gear like backpacks, we understand that very few of our backpacks meet the under-$50-threshold the state requires for the tax holiday. However, we would like to point out that we’re fairly sure most of those under-$50 backpacks you’ll find somewhere else also won’t come with a lifetime guarantee. 

Check out this story on our marketing director’s son’s backpack that lasted not only his kindergarten school year, but all of grade school and high school, too.

Like we’ve said: Why buy them gear that’s built to barely survive one school year when you can outfit them in gear meant to last an entire school career?

Official Paddle Store & Official Paddling Experts of the MR340

On Tuesday, July 20, 534 boats holding more than 800 participants will leave Kaw Point Park in Kansas City, Kan., for the 2021 Missouri American Water MR340, the world’s longest non-stop river race.

Paddlers will have just 85 hours to navigate 340 miles across the state of Missouri, nearly all on the Missouri River, from Kansas City to St. Charles. Chances are at least a third of those participants won’t make that deadline.

Not only is Alpine Shop the Official Paddle Shop of the race, but we are also proud to have a number of employees participating in the event.

We asked a few of those paddlers (and ground crew) to give us some insight into why they compete in the MR340 and what they’d recommend you do if you decide to try it yourself one year.

Jarrid Snyder:

1. What has drawn you to this event? A: The paddling community. Especially within the shop. The support is incredible, and everyone wants to see you finish. 
2. Have you participated before? A: I started the race last year and didn’t make the finish. Ready for the haul to the boathouse this year.
3. What are your goals for this year? A: My goal is to make it to my best friends wedding. The rehearsal dinner is Thursday night, so 60 hours or bust! You could say this is an unfortunate scheduling mistake on my part.
4. What kind of boat are you using? A: I’m paddling a boat I’ve spent less than 2.5 hours in. Some surprises led me to a teammate a couple weeks ago and I just bought a 40 year old Wenonah Jenson Kevlar Canoe. 
5. What kind of paddle are you using? A:  My trusty Wenonah Black Lite Elbow and when I’m feeling like churning out some quick miles, an Aquabound Whiskey Straight Shaft double blade.
6. Paddling with Teammates?  Yes! Eric Evans from the shop. Last minute change from a solo canoe.
7. What tips and tricks would you suggest for first time participants? A: Don’t think of this as a race to St. Charles. Break it into smaller pieces. Your brain is powerful and can psych you out so just think of what needs to happen in the moment and you’ll get there!

Jarrid Snyder
Alpine Shop Program Director

Teri Rudelic:

1. What has drawn you to this event? A: The opportunity for an affordable adventure. 
2. Have you participated before? A: This will be my 4th time. 
3. What are your goals for this year? A:  My goal is to enjoy my time on the River and finish Thursday night. 
4. What kind of boat are you using? A: 18 1/2” Wenonah fiberglass Jensen
5. What kind of paddle are you using? A:  52” bent shaft Bending Branches wood paddle
6. Paddling with Teammates?  I am paddling with the same girl I’ve paddled with the last three times. 
7. What tips and tricks would you suggest for first time participants? A: Just don’t quit. Everyday you’re a little closer to the end and it’s a little easier mentally. 

Teri Rudelic
Alpine Shop Facilities Manager

Eric Evans:

1. What has drawn you to this event? A: The challenge to finish such an epic race and the commrodary of the competitors, volunteers, and the ground crews.  It's the longest continuous river race in the world!
2. Have you participated before? A: Yes.  Twice.  And I'll keep competing until my body says "NOOOOOO, don't do it again!".
3. What are your goals for this year? A:  To get Jarrid to his buddy's wedding on time!
4. What kind of boat are you using? A: 1981 Wenonah Jensen
5. What kind of paddle are you using? A: Black Pearl II canoe paddle and Werner Cyprus belmont shaft kayak paddle
6. Paddling with Teammates?  Yes. Tandem canoe
7. What tips and tricks would you suggest for first time participants? A: Ask lots and lots of questions.  Set realistic goals.  Training runs from Jefferson City and other ramps/checkpoints to St. Charles.  It's good to be familiar with the second half of the race when you will be the most exhausted. Familiar landmarks can be morale boosters.

Eric Evans
Alpine Shop Kirkwood Assistant Store Manager

Emily Woll:

1. What has drawn you to this event? A: I first did this race in 2017 after making a new year's resolution to "really throw myself at life and try new things" then 3 days later being asked to join the MR340 in a team boat. The second year I did the race to prove to myself that I could (Year one I was DNF) and to get back with the great commoradary of paddlers.
2. Have you participated before? A: Yes I raced in 2017 and DNF (did not finish, pulling out at Waverly) and 2018 tandem 
3. What are your goals for this year? A: This year I am not racing, but plan to do solo women's in 2022, with an endtime under 70 hours.
4. What kind of boat are you using? A: Most likely a Wilderness System Tsunami 145
5. What kind of paddle are you using? A: Werner Camano 220 small bent shaft... possibly a Greenlander style paddle
6. Paddling with Teammates? A: Nope, solo. But maybe traveling in a "pod" with fellow racers.
7. What tips and tricks would you suggest for first time participants? A: Tip 1: Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! The two weeks leading up to the race, slowly increase your daily water intake to help your body get comfortable with the amount of water it will be filtering during the race. Tip 2: Real foods and fruits during the race, a lot of protein packed bars can be rough digestion during the race. Tip 3: Ladies, figure out how to pee in a boat without capsizing (or pulling over) well in advance of the race. Tip 4: Know your limits and be honest with your body.

Emily Woll
Alpine Shop Columbia Assistant Manager
-Working as ground crew in 2021 for one of Alpine Shop's teams

After Over 2000 Miles, Record Attempt Ends Less than 150 Miles from Finish Line

NEW ORLEANS – Alpine Shop employee, Perry Whitaker, set out in early May as part of a four man team attempting to set a new World Record for Fastest Time to Row the Length of the Mississippi River by a Team. 16 days later and less than 150 miles from that record, the Mississippi Speed Record canoe swamped and sank due to a life-threatening mix of high winds, ocean-going vessels, barges and tugs all converging on the river at the same time.

Perry posted on Facebook, the morning after the canoe vanished into the waves: “Our canoe is at the bottom of the Mighty Mississippi. This adventure is done, after over 2,100 miles.”

A little later he added to that:

I’ve been on lots of crazy adventures, but this is the first time I’ve ever had more than just a few people cheering for me as I was adventuring.

For more than 2,000 miles over about two weeks, people have lined the River to encourage us. They’ve cheered, war-whooped, blew horns, shot fireworks, and rang cowbells.

Lots, and lots of cowbells…

There were crowds cheering as we paddled through cities, people waving from their back yards, groups partying at isolated boat ramps, and sometimes we had absolutely no idea where the cheering was coming from.

At a few very small, BEAUTIFUL towns along the River, it seemed that a majority of the residents were out there encouraging us.

Cheering for me??? I can’t wrap my brain around strangers cheering for me because I’m just a regular guy.

Unfortunately, with less than 150 miles to go, my River humbled us.

Heavy winds swamped our canoe in the middle of the night and we lost everything in a few short minutes.

I had a firm grip on the safety boat, and I struggled to hold on to the canoe as long as I could until the current took her down.

I’m pissed.

I’m sad.

I’m disappointed.

But mostly, I’m astounded that so many people took time out of their busy lives to encourage and support me in this little adventure, and I’m very, very appreciative of everyone.

Not just the crowds along the river, but also the couple dozen outstanding people who volunteered about three weeks of their time to try to make this whole thing a success.

This is not hyperbole, but I think more highly of people today than I did before this trip.

Perry Whitaker – May 21 on Facebook

After he took a few days to make his way back to work at Alpine Shop, here’s how Perry answered some of the most frequently asked questions about the trip:

Q. Why in the Hell did you do this?

“Because it’s there”. Someone once asked Mallory why he wanted to climb Everest and he said “Because it’s there”.  Paddling the whole Mississippi in less than 3 weeks isn’t nearly as daunting as climbing Everest. Mallory died on his third attempt at Everest, we just sunk our canoe and had to be rescued by our safety boat. 

I met Conrad Anker a few years ago, he’s the person who finally found Mallory’s body about 75 years after he died. I got to buy a few beers for the guys in the safety boats who rescued us, Mallory didn’t get that option.

I’ve given a lot of presentations about the history of the Mississippi River so I was excited when I got the opportunity to join this team on the record attempt. 

Q. Have you ever done anything like this before?

I’ve been on lots of adventures, but nothing like this. 

I went on a month-long solo bike trip through Central America, I walked across England along Hadrian’s Wall then biked across Ireland, and I’ve been on a lot of other long backpacking, biking, and paddling trips.

This was the first time I tried to break a Guinness Book of World Records time for something.

Q. What was your most memorable moment of this trip?

You mean other than the canoe sinking in a storm 137 miles from the finish? 

The first 2,160 miles of the trip were great, but the last few minutes kind of sucked. 

I really enjoyed all the wildlife. We heard a pack of wolves, saw a couple bears, some sandhill cranes, and we watched a huge fisher jumping out of a tree after something. I wish I had taken a bird identification book with me, even though I was too busy paddling to look up birds.

Q. What did you expect to be your biggest challenges of this trip and were you right? 

I think my expectations were pretty close to reality. There were two categories of challenges: those things we could control and those things we couldn’t. The things we could control included training and equipment, the things we couldn’t control included things like the weather, or a major barge traffic jam caused by a damaged bridge in Memphis, TN. I expected the physical challenge to be my biggest hurdle, so I trained pretty hard. I was also worried about how much this would cost. We expected it to cost between $20,000 and $30,000 dollars.

Q. Twenty to thirty thousand dollars?

We had a huge support crew. There were three safety boats and two RVs following us down the river. The primary costs were fuel for those vehicles and food for about 25 volunteers for about 3 weeks. There was also the price of gear. The canoe was about $3500, modifications to the canoe was another grand, paddles were about $300 each. There were a million other things we needed and they all added up.

Q. Tell me about your training for this.

For the past several years, I’ve kayak over two thousand miles per year, so I already had a good start on my training. 

In addition to that, I started training on a rowing machine about a year and a half ago. Distance paddling in a canoe or kayak is more about the core than the arms so the rowing machine has been great. I should have worked on my shoulders more, but I did okay. My training was slowed down by the pandemic because I couldn’t go to the gym. 

I think I did pretty well, physically. I felt strong throughout the trip, and I think I could have paddled at that pace for a couple more weeks. 

Q. What was the weather like?

It was below freezing for the first few nights, then it got up to the mid-80’s toward the finish. The weather was surprisingly good until the wind on the last two days. 

Q. I assume this got rather monotonous at times, what kept you going?

I didn’t think it was monotonous, I enjoyed the heck out of it.

When we were forced off the river, I wasn’t joking when I asked if someone could loan me a boat to finish the trip or maybe even paddle about a thousand miles upstream back to St Louis.

Q. As you were on the river, your attempt was covered by a few newspapers and TV stations, while thousands of people were following the progress on Facebook. Were you expecting that? 

Absolutely not. I’ve been on a lot of adventures but I’ve never had thousands of people cheering me on. It was awkward. 

How are the big rivers different from the smaller Ozark streams?

A lot of the upper Mississippi seemed just like paddling on the Current River or upper Meramac. We just saw a lot more eagles and beavers on the upper Mississippi. 

Big rivers like the Mississippi and Missouri are safer than smaller streams in a lot of ways, but more dangerous in others. Paddling on a big river is usually like paddling on a lake, but we don’t worry about barge traffic on our local lakes. Once you understand the concepts of river navigation, it’s pretty easy.  

If you want to paddle on the Mississippi or Missouri, go with someone who knows what they’re doing for the first couple times. It’s simple after someone walks you through it, but it’s difficult and dangerous to try to figure out on your own.

How can people learn more about paddling on the big rivers?

The Mississippi River Water Trail Association is an organization that can really help. Big Muddy Adventures takes people out on the Mississippi all the time, and the Alpine Shop occasionally does too. You can also talk to people who’ve done the MR340, they love to talk about it.

What questions have you been asked the most about this trip?

Getting through the locks, does my butt hurt from sitting in a canoe for 2 ½ weeks, and will I do it again.

What are the answers to those questions?

Locking through was great. There are 27 locks on the Mississippi, and the US Army Corp of Engineers went above and beyond to help us get through them quickly, and some barges even let us lock through ahead of them. That was amazingly cool of them. We only had to wait a couple times. If you haven’t locked through before, do it because it’s very educational.

Yes, my butt was numb.  My hands and feet hurt and were swollen, but people don’t ask about my hands and feet, they just want to know about my butt.  

I’ve had a couple weeks to recover and I’m almost back to normal now. 

You didn’t say if you’d do it again?

I think it’s impossible to do something like this and not think of ways to be faster, more efficient, and safer. I think I could probably knock a couple days off the world record time. I already have the right boat, I just need to find the right people. If I can find the right people, I’ll try it again.

Do you have any other big adventures planned?

The MR340 is coming in a few weeks and I plan to race in that again this year. I’m also thinking about walking the Trail of Tears this winter. 

Any final thoughts or words of wisdom?

I’ve been reading a lot about Teddy Roosevelt recently, and I think more people should read his “Man in the Arena” speech.

Great American Campout

Alpine Shop has been celebrating the Great American Backyard Campout for more than five years on the fourth weekend of every June. Beginning in 2020, the National Wildlife Federation expanded the event into a summer-long promotion aimed at finding fun ways for people to connect with nature and learn about wildlife and rebranded it the Great American Campout. Who are we to argue?

So, celebrate the Great American Campout with us this weekend! Alpine Shop in St. Louis is sponsoring the Des Peres Park Campout as part of our observance of this summer highlight holiday, but, according to the guidelines of the event on-line, all you have to do is take the pledge to camp, even if it’s under a tent in your living room.

The main idea of the event is to take some time to enjoy nature and the relaxation it provides, as so many of us have discovered during the pandemic.

If you’re ready to get outside this weekend, visit the National Wildlife Federation page for some more ideas and then check out our Camping Checklist at alpineshop.com for what to bring along!

Win Adventure Gear for Dad – Enter by June 18!

Just in time for Dad’s Special Day, Alpine Shop is giving away a prize package on Instagram worth over $300! One lucky winner will receive the ultimate bundle for their favorite dad that includes: a $150 Alpine Shop gift card, a Nomadix Do Anything Towel, Duke Cannon soap and lip protectant, a Toad Fish Can Cooler, and a pair of Chacos!

Two runners up will also receive a Duke Cannon product and a $50 Alpine Shop gift card.

To enter for a chance to win:
☑️Like the post above on Instagram
☑️Drop a comment letting us know what outdoor activity you and your dad enjoy doing together the most
☑️Tag 3 people in the comments (bonus entry if you tag 5 or more)

Enter by end of day on Friday 6/18 to be eligible.

Alpine Shop Wins Three 2021 A-List Awards

St. Louis Magazine announced their A-List Readers’ Choice Awards on Monday, June 14 and for the second time in three years, St. Louis-based Alpine Shop has taken home three awards.

Alpine Shop won awards for Best Outdoor Outfitters, Best Sporting Goods, and Best Activewear, beating out brands like REI, Bass Pro Shops, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Lululemon and Big River Running.

This is the third consecutive year that Alpine Shop has won Best Outdoor Outfitters, and the second consecutive year for Best Sporting Goods. It’s also the second time in three years that the store won Best Activewear.

Alpine Shop Employee Attempting World Record Paddle

UPDATE: Alpine Shop’s own Perry Whitaker – part of a four-man team known as “Mississippi Speed Record” – will be paddling through St. Louis today on day 10 of their attempt at the World Record for Fastest Time to Row the Length of the Mississippi River by a Team. (By Guinness’ guidelines, this can be undertaken in a scull, rowboat, kayak or canoe.)

The old World Record of 18 days, four hours and 51 minutes was set back in 2003. However, a new tentative record of 17 days and 20 hours was set just four days ago by another team.

Now, Mississippi Speed Record has that new time in sight. As of 10 am on Friday, May 14, they had reduced a deficit of more than four hours down to just 36 minutes off the pace as they head into Alton and then into downtown St. Louis later today.

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ORIGINAL STORY:

Of all the personalities and characters that you may have come across at an Alpine Shop location over the past decade, none are probably so well known as Perry Whitaker. A consummate adventurer and ambassador, Whitaker has dedicated himself to getting people outdoors – especially if it involves his beloved rivers.

An experienced kayaker and canoeist, Whitaker is a 12-time finisher of the Missouri River 340 Race and has been Alpine Shop’s lead paddle instructor for almost a decade, leading everything from small basic classes to multi-day paddles on the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers around his hometown St. Louis. In 2019, he was even named one of the area’s Best Outdoor Guides/Instructors by the readers of Terrain Magazine.

Now, after months of training, he’s begun “an adventure like no other” – an attempt at the World Record for Fastest Time to Row the Length of the Mississippi River by a Team. (By Guinness’ guidelines, this can be undertaken in a scull, rowboat, kayak or canoe.) Whitaker, part of a four-man team comprised of paddling experts from across the U.S., will be attempting to break the World Record of 18 days, four hours and 51 minutes set back in 2003. The team, known as Mississippi Speed Record, has a live feed of the attempt that is allowing people from across the world to keep track of the attempt.

The second-longest river in the U.S. and the fourth longest in the world, the Mississippi River is between 2,300 and 2,350 miles (at best estimate). In order to break the record, Whitaker’s team will need to tackle nearly 140 miles each day on the river. Leaving Lake Itasca in Northern Minnesota on Tuesday, May 4, they expect to take about four days to reach the Twin Cities, six days from Minneapolis/St. Paul to St. Louis, and another seven from his hometown of St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico south of New Orleans.

According to the Mississippi Speed Record site:

Since 2003 there have been at least three unsuccessful attempts to break the record. A team of four consisting of Tim Muhich, Colin Bright, Clint Adams and Boot Baweja made and attempt in 2014, and in 2017 they made another attempt with Dale Waldo replacing Boot Baweja. Kevin Eckelkamp (nephew of Steve Eckelkamp), Nate Lastinger and KJ Millhone made an unsuccessful attempt in 2018(9).

In 2020, Scott Miller along with KJ Millhone, Casey Millhone, and Oliver Simes put together a team to break the record. Because of the Covid pandemic and numerous stay at home orders, this attempt was scraped and Scott Miller put together the current team trying to break the record in 2021.