Winter is the perfect season to dream about the places you want to go next and to get a little smarter before you go.
Park Smarts & Campfire Talks is a relaxed, story-driven series led by Marty Koch, a retired Alpine Shop team member and longtime park ranger who now volunteers throughout the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service. Marty has spent decades exploring America’s most iconic parks, learning what truly makes a trip smoother, richer, and more memorable.
Each session feels like a campground conversation. Part storytelling, part insider guidance. Marty shares firsthand experiences alongside practical planning advice you will actually use. Expect insight on timing, logistics, common mistakes, and what surprises visitors most once they arrive. You will leave with both inspiration and a clearer sense of how to plan your own adventure.
Each gathering focuses on a different national park or destination, making it easy to join the sessions that match your travel goals. Come for one park that’s already on your list, or come back for a few and keep the campfire going all winter long.
Small group setting. Good stories. Useful takeaways. Plus, Snacks and drinks are included!
What to Expect
- A different National Park or destination featured each session
- Campfire-style storytelling paired with real-world planning advice
- Insight on timing, logistics, and common mistakes travelers make
- A small-group setting that encourages questions and conversation
- A relaxed, welcoming atmosphere with snacks and drinks provided
Event Details
- Cost: $10 per session
- Location: Alpine Shop Kirkwood, conference room behind the climbing counter
- Wednesday Sessions: 6:45 pm | Saturday Sessions: 11:00 am
- Capacity: Limited to 20 guests per session
Advance registration is recommended, as sessions often fill.
View the Schedule Below & Reserve Your Spot
Each session focuses on a different National Park or destination. Browse the schedule below and register for the talks that match your travel plans.
Planning to attend more than a few sessions? A limited number of Season Passes are available for $40 and includes access to all eight talks.
Grand Teton National Park – Saturday, JAN 31 @ 11 am
Rising sharply from the valley floor, the Teton Range is widely considered the most dramatic mountain range in the lower 48. Jagged peaks, crystal-clear alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, and powerful rivers make Grand Teton National Park a place that stops people in their tracks.
Whether Grand Teton is a long-awaited bucket-list destination or a natural extension of a Yellowstone trip, this talk offers perspective and preparation to help you experience the park at its best.
• You’ll leave with insight on timing, hiking options, and seeing the Tetons beyond the overlooks.
Glacier National Park – Wednesday, FEB 4 @ 6:45 pm
Glacier National Park is raw, dramatic, and unforgettable. Sharp peaks carved by ice, clear rushing water, and wide-open wildlife habitat give the park its well-earned nickname, the Crown of the Continent.
Whether Glacier is a long-held dream or a trip you are actively planning, this talk offers insight that helps you enjoy the park with confidence, preparation, and a deeper appreciation for its scale and beauty.
• You’ll leave better prepared for hiking, wildlife awareness, and navigating Going-to-the-Sun Road.
Yellowstone National Park – Wednesday, FEB 18 @ 6:45 pm
Yellowstone National Park is unlike anywhere else in the country. Vast landscapes, roaming wildlife, and otherworldly thermal features make it a place people dream about for decades before they ever go.
Whether Yellowstone is already on your calendar or still just a someday destination, you will leave with a clearer sense of how to experience it well, without feeling rushed or overwhelmed.
• You’ll leave knowing how to plan for Yellowstone’s scale, crowds, and surprises.
Buffalo National River – Wednesday, FEB 25 @ 6:45 pm
Flowing freely through the heart of Arkansas, the Buffalo National River holds a special place in the National Park Service as America’s first national river. Towering limestone bluffs, hidden hollows, and clear, winding water create a landscape that feels both wild and timeless.
Whether you are planning a float trip, a hiking-focused visit, or a mix of both, this talk offers perspective and preparation to help you enjoy the Buffalo National River with confidence and appreciation.
• You’ll leave knowing how to plan a trip that balances paddling, hiking, and seasonal conditions.
Canyonlands & Arches National Park – Saturday, MAR 7 @ 11 am
Few places capture the imagination like Canyonlands and Arches National Parks. Located near Moab, Utah, these neighboring parks showcase the Southwest at its most dramatic. Towering mesas, endless desert vistas, and more than 100 natural stone arches create landscapes that feel both ancient and awe-inspiring.
Whether you are drawn to Arches for its iconic hikes or to Canyonlands for its vast, untamed wilderness, this talk offers perspective to help you understand what sets each park apart and how to experience them in a way that feels rewarding, not rushed.
• You’ll leave with a clearer sense of how to plan a Moab-area visit that balances iconic sights with deeper exploration.
Ozark National Scenic Riverways – Wednesday, MAR 11 @ 6:45 pm
The Ozark National Scenic Riverways protects some of the clearest, most inviting rivers in the Midwest. The Current and Jacks Fork Rivers wind for 134 miles through towering bluffs, spring-fed waters, caves, and rich wildlife habitat deep in the Missouri Ozarks.
Whether you are planning a multi-day float or a simple weekend escape, this talk offers clear guidance and local perspective to help you experience this remarkable National Park Service site with confidence and ease.
• You’ll leave with a clearer sense of how to plan paddling, camping, and hiking trips in the Ozarks.
Shawnee National Forest – Saturday, MAR 21 @ 11 am
Just a short drive southeast of St. Louis, Shawnee National Forest is often overlooked, and that’s part of its appeal. Sandstone canyons, quiet waterfalls, forested ridgelines, and designated wilderness areas create a landscape that feels far removed from everyday life.
Whether you are planning a quick weekend escape or a longer, slower visit, this talk offers perspective and practical insight to help you get the most from Shawnee’s hiking, camping, biking, and boating opportunities without overcomplicating the trip.
• You’ll leave with a better sense of where to go, when to visit, and how to enjoy Shawnee beyond the well-known stops.
Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness & Quetico Provincial Park – Wednesday, MAR 25 @ 6:45 pm
Straddling the international border between Minnesota and Ontario, the Boundary Waters and Quetico Provincial Park offer some of the finest wilderness paddling in North America. Thousands of interconnected lakes, quiet portage trails, and deep solitude create a place where days slow down and distance is measured by water and trail.
Whether you are considering a first multi-day canoe trip or dreaming about a longer expedition, this talk provides perspective and clarity to help you understand what these wilderness areas demand and reward.
• You’ll leave with a clearer sense of routes, trip length, outfitting needs, and what it takes to travel confidently in true wilderness.
About Alpine Shop
For more than 50 years, Alpine Shop has helped travelers and outdoor enthusiasts get ready for what’s next. From expert guidance to thoughtfully chosen gear, our team is here to make every trip more enjoyable, more comfortable, and more memorable.
Park Smarts & Campfire Talks is part of our ongoing commitment to sharing real experience, practical knowledge, and a genuine love of the outdoors with our community.