Looking for inspiration for your next adventure?
Marty has you covered with his experience as a retired park ranger that has led hundreds of group expeditions ranging from the Ozarks to Northern Minnesota and Canada. Now he spends his time volunteering with the National Park Service and U.S. Forest Service in the West. Let him guide you in getting ready for your next trip or find inspiration to start planning for those warm summer months!
Classes will cover a new topic each week. Spots are limited to 20 in each session, so please register in advance. Tickets will be available for $10. All classes will be held in the conference room behind the climbing counter in the Kirkwood Alpine Shop at 6pm and will conclude by 8pm.
Snacks and drinks are provided for FREE!
Questions? 314-775-2132
Known as the Crown of the Continent, Glacier National Park is an amazing place. Rugged glacier carved mountains, rushing streams and stunning wildlife. Glacier is a hikers paradise with 734 miles of trails to explore. This program will include sections of the mountains, wildlife, lodging, hiking bear safety, and the amazing Going to the Sun Highway.
The Current and Jack’s Fork Rivers offers 134 miles of pristine paddling coursing through the Missouri Ozarks. Along the way are beautiful bluffs, abundant springs, caves, and amazing wildlife. This presentation will explore all that this unit of the National Park Service has to offer. Join us as we the paddling, hiking, camping and other opportunities this area offers.
Located just 100 miles SE of St. Louis, the Shawnee National Forest is often overlooked. This area offers lots of hiking, camping, and boating opportunities. The area has sandstone canyons, waterfalls, biking trails, and federally designated wilderness areas to explore. This presentation will highlight the special features and how to get the most from your visit.
Explore the world’s first national park! Over 1 million acres of amazing landscapes, abundant wildlife, and astonishing thermal features make Yellowstone National Park a number one destination in America. We will explore the wildlife, landscapes, and thermal areas as well as cover the practicalities of visiting Yellowstone. Learn about lodging, driving, camping, and hiking in this vast wilderness.
Wilderness travelers and outdoor adventurers need to be bear aware in the woods. While this is vital for travelers in the western regions of North America it is a growing concern in the Missouri Ozarks. The bear population in Missouri and Arkansas is growing so it is best to be safe. This program will feature both Grizzly Bears and North American Black Bears and how to stay safe in bear country. Learn how to avoid the bruins and what to do in a close encounter
Located on both sides of the Minnesota and Ontario international boarder, the Boundary Waters offer some of the best wilderness paddling in North American. Thousands of lakes are connected by portage trails allowing for wilderness trips up to a month in length. This presentation will explore this international paddling mecca providing information on trip planning, route finding, gear and food outfitting, wildlife and so much more.
These two National Parks are perhaps the most iconic representatives of the great American Southwest. Both parks are located near Moab, Utah. They feature unparalleled scenery! Over 100 natural arches grace Arches National Park. This park is a hiker’s dream. Canyonlands National Park features tens of thousands of acres of wilderness landscapes just waiting for you to explore.
The Teton Range is the most dramatic in the lower 48. This park is a photographer and hikers delight. Crystal clear mountain lakes, waterfalls, and surging rivers make Grand Teton a must on everyone’s bucket list.
The Buffalo River in Arkansas was America’s first national river. This beautiful stream offers paddlers the opportunity to float past towering foots bluffs, explore hidden hallows with the tallest waterfall between the Applachian and Rocky Mountains. The river is home to herds of roaming deer, elk, bear and many bird species. The Buffalo National River offers amazing hiking as well.
When you look at amazing photographs by professional photographers, do you ever wonder how they do it? This presentation will lead you through ten easy steps to greatly improve your photography. Learn how the pros produce these stunning images.
The Ozarks offers nearly 10,000 miles of streams and river for paddling! Ranging from gentle family friendly streams to class II-IV whitewater runs the Ozarks has you covered. We will look at famous paddling rivers such as the Current and Buffalo Rivers as well as lesser known and uncrowded rivers.
The St. Louis Area is surrounded on all sides by amazing outdoor spaces for hiking, camping, paddling and exploring nature. We will visit about 20 such areas for your consideration. Some you may know, but many will be new to you. Explore more close to home.