5 Tips for Trail Running in St Louis During August

If you’ve come to this page thinking you’re about to find an information-packed morsel of trail running goodness in St Louis, well you’re right. It just might not be the information you thought you were getting.

Register today for the Off-Road Racing League Trail Run Series

Instead, I’m going to share the five things you should know about participating in Alpine Shop‘s Trail Run Series – part of the Off-Road Racing League in St Louis. This series already has hosted four full nights of bike racing during July and now we turn to trail running for the month of August. (It’s all part of the big plan!) Our mission is nothing short of turning St. Louis into one of America’s Top 10 cities for outdoor activities.

1. Yes, we know it’s hot.

That’s why we’re trail running! We’ll be running in the shade most of the time on the great course that Big River Running Company has helped us set up. Even better – we’re going to run through a cool creek twice! Seriously, we know this time of year the temperature can be a real issue; but it doesn’t have to stop us from enjoying the great outdoors, getting some exercise and having some fun. Please bring water bottles or a CamelBak pack and participate at your own pace. And then enjoy the food and drink following the race.

2. Set your own pace.

We’ll have everyone from experts to flat out beginners in this series. How seriously you take it is up to you. For some of you, the only thing that will matter is finishing in the top 10. For others, the only thing that matters will just be finishing – period. Whatever your skill level, whatever your fitness level, this series is about having fun.

3. Have fun.

In the mountain biking part of this series, we’ve had guys dressed as cheerleaders, we’ve had people riding on tandems, we’ve had kids of all ages. If you feel like running in

Short Track Dirt Crit Series Cyclist Dressed as Cheerleader
The Off-Road Racing League is all about having fun

a costume – more power to you! If you want to race in a giant Fredbird costume (hint, hint Cardinals), we urge you to do so. If you’re more comfortable running in your trusted workout outfit, we happen to be St Louis Magazine’s A-List choice for athletic and workout gear (another hint, hint)! And after the race, The Wolf provides the food and New Belgium Brewery provides the adult beverages. All you have to do is enjoy yourself.

4. Get registered.

So what are you waiting for? If you sign up for the entire race series, you can save $10 on the price of the four races. The first race starts this Thursday, August 4 at 6 pm at Castlewood State Park. You can find out all the information you need here. Register today!

5. Spread the word.

Invite your friends to run with you. Help us turn this event into the party it should be. Help us celebrate the outdoor life in our great city of St Louis!

Tax Holiday Comes a Week Early to Alpine Shop

Alpine Shop will pay your sales tax on EVERYTHING in our stores beginning this Friday, July 29 through Sunday, August 7.

Why wait for the “Back to School” tax break? We’ve got “Back to – “Whatever you want to do” Savings going on right now!

It doesn’t matter to us if you’re shopping for Back to School, Back to the River, Back to the Trail or Back to the Ski Lift. Just fill in whatever you want to get back to for yourself. Whatever you’re shopping for, we’ll take care of the sales tax for you starting Friday, July 29 through August 7.

And when we say EVERYTHING, we mean EVERYTHING.

This is not just good on backpacks or clothes. Need a new bike to get to school (or to get on the trail)? Pay absolutely no tax on it when you purchase it from us before Aug. 7. Are you thinking you just need to get a new kayak? No Tax! Skis for this winter’s trip to the mountains? No tax! EVERYTHING is tax free.

Alpine Shop’s Save Your Sales Tax Week starts Friday, July 29 at all Alpine Shop stores and on-line at alpineshop.com. Don’t get caught waiting – it only goes through Sunday, Aug. 7.

* Discount on receipt reflects normal sales tax amount.

Final Weekend for Wilderness Systems Kayak Rebates

For our customers in the market for a new Wilderness Systems kayak, like maybe the Tsunami kayak we use in our instructional courses, or the fishing-centered Tarpon, this last weekend of July is your final chance to take advantage of up to $100 in rebates.

If you’d like to take advantage of the deal, come in to Alpine Shop‘s Kirkwood or Columbia locations and pick out the Wilderness Systems kayak you like. We’ll print out the rebate form for you (or you can print the copy below) and make sure you have it filled out correctly. Then, just mail in the form with the correct proof of purchase by August 30, 2011 to claim your cash!

Why This Year’s Tour Actually Matters

We all know about the doping scandals that have rocked (and continue to rock) the cycling world through recent history.  With that said, the 2011 Tour de France has turned out to be an absolutely riveting race – yes, quite possibly even for those of you who have absolutely no interest in a Tour without Lance.

In 2011, we haven’t sat back and said “So, when will Lance make his move.” Instead, it’s been “How long can Thomas Voeckler hold onto the yellow?” Evidently, Voeckler himself keeps forgetting that he was supposed to have fallen out of the race for the yellow jersey long, long ago. It’s like the bike race version of the Little Engine that Could. In Thursday’s brutal stage which featured 17,000 feet of climbing including the highest summit in Tour history at the top of the Galibier, the little Frenchman somehow managed to stay in the yellow by just 15 seconds.

Today’s stage 19 features the famous l’Alpe d’Huez, featuring its 21 historic hairpin turns with an average of 7.9 percent grade up nearly 14 kilometers.

With just three stages (including today’s final mountain stage) left in the tour, everything is still up for grabs. If you haven’t been watching the coverage on Versus or following the action live at a site like Velo News, you’ve still got a chance over the last two days to witness some incredible racing.

And, you can check out some gorgeous Specialized road bikes (and mountain and hybrid bikes) at Alpine Shop as well!

Finally, don’t miss out on the rest of the Alpine Shop Short Track Dirt Crit Series at Castlewood State Park next Thursday, July 28! The best mountain bike racing in the Midwest for experts all the way to pure beginners has become the premier bike race in St. Louis. See you there!

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.

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!

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)!

Yakima Offering Up to $50 Rebate on a New Rack

Yakima Roof Rack Rebate

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.

Yakima Roof Rack Rebate
The best roof racks in the business come from Yakima.

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!

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.

 

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!