Jay Alter, our rep for The North Face, was in the Chalet last Saturday.
He handed out some good swag and talked to a lot of you about the latest clothing and gear from North Face. Joe Palmer won a TNF Base Camp duffle bag in our drawing.
20% of sales from North Face product over that weekend are being donated to our friends at RedRockCanyonOpenSpace.org
Bruce Gordon, our rep for Smartwool, was in the shop yesterday and the first 30 customers that tried on a piece of Smartwool merino apparel (in the official lime green portable dressing room!) got a free pair of socks.
20% of all Smartwool sales from this balmy November weekend are being donated to the Friends of Red Rock Canyon Open Space to support their current efforts to “fill the pond”.
The Friends of Red Rock Canyon Open Space hosted an appreciation day for this urban jewel on Saturday. There were guided hikes and trail repair, and a variety of vendors set up tents to show their support. The parking lots were filled with hikers and bikers enjoying the event and the beautiful October day.
On Friday, September 28th, the Mountain Chalet will be giving away 100 pairs of the new Smartwool PHD sock. Come down to the Chalet, try on a new pair, and you’ll get them for free.
New advancements in sock-ology have improved the fit, comfort and durability of these socks. Don’t be sheepish, meet Bruce Gordon, the Smartwool rep, and learn about the great benefits of merino wool.
We’ll be giving out free chapstick and will have a raffle for a mid weight Smartwool zip top at this launch party.
Be sure to come early as this offer is limited to the first 100 people to try on the socks- we’re open at 10:00 AM.
See you at the shop!
Outdoor guide site RootsRated has launched in partnership with Grassroots Outdoor Alliance retailer Mountain Chalet this week to provide locals and visitors to the Pikes Peak area with a highly usable guide for discovering local experts’ favorite places for outdoor recreation.
RootsRated is, simply put, an outdoor travel guide. Ever find yourself traveling to a city, wondering where you can rock climb or trail run when you get there? Are you new to your area, or looking to try a new sport? With RootsRated, the best local outdoor experiences are at your fingertips.
This is “expertly-curated” information, which means our local experts have selected their favorite spots for you. You won’t have to wade through dozens of options before making a choice; the 5 or 10 best local spots are right there, so you can pick one and get out there. If you need a piece of gear before heading out, you’ll be able to connect with Grassroots Outdoor Alliance retailers in that region — the same experts who’ve provided the content.
Mountain Chalet, like all Grassroots Retailers, is already the hub of local knowledge for trails and crags in the CO Springs region. RootsRated is a way to capture, syndicate, share and constantly improve this knowledge and most importantly make it more readily available to break down barriers to participation in these sports.
RootsRated is going to empower adventurous people to find the most memorable experiences; this platform is the perfect resource for those in search of authentic local knowledge. Find our favorite local places to go and things to do with www.rootsrated.com.
Media Inquiries:
Fynn Glover
Founder, RootsRated.com
(e) fynn@rootsrated.com
(c) 423.316.1776
Red Rock Canyon Day is postponed due to the Waldo Canyon Fire.
You can check out the Trails and Open Space Coalition’s website (http://www.trailsandopenspaces.org/) for information regarding parks and open space closures. These currently include Ute Valley Park, Pulpit Rock, Section 16, Stratton Spen Space, Garden of the Gods, Rock Ledge Ranch, North Cheyenne Canon, Red Rock Canyon, Blodgett Peak Open Space and Palmer Park.
Our thoughts are with those who are displaced and who have lost their homes to the fire. Stay safe out there!
Harvey Carter, 1930-2012
“His equipment and techniques appeared old-fashioned, but he knew his limits and always climbed comfortably inside them. In sixty years, he reckoned he’d fallen ten times….The Harvey Carter style, it turns out, is to climb carefully enough that you rely on yourself and your own ability to move around on the rock. You don’t rely on gear, luck, or adrenaline.” -Steve Bartlett, Desert Towers.
Colorado climbing legend Harvey Carter died in March of this year at age 81. His memorial service was held two weeks ago at the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs, where an old friend climbed Montezuma’s tower and drove in a golden piton in his honor.
Carter’s list of climbing achievements is unparalleled. A true pioneer, he established first ascents and explored formidable routes throughout the west, in addition to founding Climbing Magazine. You can read a great account of Harvey’s life in Dave Phillipp’s article from 2008 in the Gazette.
Many of the staff of Mountain Chalet count themselves among Harvey’s friends or admirers, and we honor his life and his inspiring accomplishments.
Photo by Matt Chmielarczyk
Spring is almost here, and with it is a lot of bright new merchandise at the store. More items are arriving daily, so check it out!
Last Saturday we hosted the annual Banff Film festival in Colorado Springs. The event sold out well in advance, so we appreciate your enthusiastic support. As usual, we were proud to donate all the ticket proceeds to the Rocky Mountain Field Institute, totaling over $8000! Thanks for helping them continue building trails, restoring damaged lands, and taking care of our treasured natural areas.
This Saturday, March 10, is our annual rental department sale, starting at 10 AM. Stop by for great deals on used cross-country skis, poles, rock climbing shoes, snowshoes, and possibly a couple AT skis.
It’s also beginning to be trail maintenance season again. Please consider volunteering with groups such as RMFI, Guardians of Palmer Park, Friends of Red Rock Canyon, and Friends of Cheyenne Cañon as they clean up and preserve our favorite local areas.
Happy holidays from Mountain Chalet! Be sure to stop by the shop this month for some unique and lovely gift ideas. Downtown metered parking is free on Saturdays through Christmas, and we have hot apple cider for you to enjoy.
Or if you’d rather shop online, mtnchalet.com has gift cards and lots of other products to choose from. We always offer free standard shipping with no minimums, with the exception of very large items such as skis.
Check out our holiday hours, too!
Nobody knows more about the great stuff in our shop than the product representatives. We’ve chosen reps from some of our key brands to stop by Mountain Chalet on select days this fall. They will be happy to chat, introduce you to their brand(s), and answer all of your hardest questions about their products.
To sweeten the deal, Mountain Chalet will be offering some free goodies, gifts with purchase, and will also donate 20% of the sales from the visiting rep’s line(s) that day to Friends of Red Rock Canyon!
All Meet the Rep Events are at Mountain Chalet from 11am to 3pm:
Friday, Oct. 28
Owen Dennehy with Patagonia Footwear, Eagle Creek, Mountain Khakis, and Katadyn
Sat., Nov 5
Marvin Wedell with Horny Toad, Nau, Ski Logic, Alpina, and Snowpeak
Sat., Nov. 12
Tom Gordon with Osprey, Western Mountaineering, and Outdoor Research
Sat., Nov. 19
Jay Alter with the North Face
Sat., Dec. 3
Eric Miller with Dakine, Ibex and Oboz
Sat., Dec. 10
Max Milverstedt with Columbia