Kirkwood, Mo Bio's
 
 
 

Russel "Holly" Hollenbeck

Owner, aka "Boss"

Lisa Hollenbeck

Owner, aka "Boss Lady"
 

Holly and Lisa pilot this good ship Alpine, but they know that the wind in her sails comes from the hard work of their outfitters and their support staff.  Take a moment to get to know your local outfitters and sneak a peak past the "Employees Only" door to meet the buyers, marketers and other behind the scenes characters.  Choose a category below:
 

Angie Bono

Store Manager  - Head Reindeer in Charge - Certified Pedorthist and the shoe guru. AKA: The BOSS!

Alpiner since: 1999

Bonus: Certified Pedorthist and Joy Coordinator

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself:" Cave Springs on the Current River or anywhere she can take her three Schnauzers (Wolfie, Boo Ninny, and Dirty Gerty) to go Morel hunting.

Secret Hobby: Making eclectic "wind chimes"

Favorite Book: "The Stand" by Steven King

Favorite Gear:

 

 

 
 

Eric Evans

Assistant Manager  - Kirkwood Events Coordinator - SUP & Kayak Instructor

Alpiner since: 2014

Bonus:

  • Completed MR340 Twice
  • ACA certified Kayak Instructor

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself:" I love to paddle smaller rivers and my favorite hike is Hawn State Park, but the Lewis and Clark Trails are a close second.

What's Your Passion? My passions in life are many!  Music is probably first as far as activities go.  I've been playing bass guitar since I was 13 years old.  I've played in several bands and have travelled all over the country playing music.  I can thank my brothers for getting me into playing at a young age.  The three of us actually had a band together for a while, which was really special to me.  I also have a love for paddling.  Any kind really, but I prefer kayaking, canoeing, and SUPing (especially with my daughter).  I like to hike all over in pretty much any weather.

Favorite Book: "Scar Tissue" by Anthony Kiedis

Favorite Gear:
 

Teri Rudelic

Assistant Manager in charge of operations

Alpiner since: 2015

Bonus: Competed and finished in the MR340 for the last 2 years!

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself:" Believe it or not my favorite place to "Get Outside Myself" is my 4 mile trek to and from work. I love getting up early to walk to work and unwinding at the end of the day walking home.

Where'd  you learn to love the outdoors? I am from Louisville (Lou-a-vul), KY. I grew up one mile from Churchill Downs but spent weekends and vacations on the Ohio River at our cabin in Hanover, IN.

What do you do when you're not "getting outside yourself'? I love reading, cooking and spending time with my family and 8 grandkids.

Favorite Book: "Lonesome Dove" by Larry McMurty

Favorite Gear:
 

Cathy Blaies

Inventory Specialist

Alpiner since: 2013

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself": The Cedar Mesa region of Southeast Utah. "The first time I experienced the high desert region of Utah I was hooked. The colors, the big open skies, the smell of sage and pinon pine..."

What's your passion?  My passion is being in and sharing the outdoors with my friends and family. Whether I'm in my backyard or ona trail in Utah I love taking pictures, especially close up work. My lifelong passion of all things "outdoors" began with my Dand and Grandpa. My love for photography was a way for me to share my adventures with them. 

Favorite Book: My favorite collection of books is from author Nevada Barr. Best known for her Anna Pigeon series of mystery novels set in national parks in the United States.

Favorite Gear:
 

Marcus Miller

Bike Shop Manager 

Alpiner since: 2015

Bonus: Former Wilderness First Responder

What's your passion? My passion would have to be Mountain Biking, Skiing, and Back Country Camping.  I engage in all of these activities at least once a year.  My brother moving to Colorado almost 10 years and me visiting all the time got me into the Mountain type activities.  Also, a family trip to Lake Tahoe in the winter starting around the same time  really got me into skiing.  I enjoy being outside and having a job that revolves around that.  Learning and engaging with all the different outdoor brands is a great interest to me.    

Where'd  you learn to love the outdoors? I am from Ballwin, Missouri, a small township within St. Louis County.  I have access to great mountain biking in the area with places including but not limited to Castlewood State Park, Greensfelder Conservation Area, and the Zombies Trail at Rock Hollow.

Favorite Book: Arc'teryx brand catalog ;)

Favorite Gear:
 

Beth Rutledge

Accessories Area Coordinator - Outfitter - Supplier of Supreme Baked Goods

Alpiner since: 2012

Bonus: Scout leader for 17 years 

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself:" My absolute favorite place to hike is in Colorado but, around here, I think my favorite long hike is at Hawn State Park. It almost feels like Colorado with the pines and the rock.

What's your passion? I like resetting my soul in the outdoors. It sometimes takes a really long hike to get my psyche back to a normal level. I also like kayaking but am by no means an expert!

What do you do when you're not "getting outside yourself'? I am a musician by education and still teach private flute and classical voice lessons. I also do stained glass, quilting and sew.

Favorite Book: "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Brontë

Favorite Gear:

  • I love almost all things Columbia in clothing. They are cut to fit real people - not just a very select super fit few.
 

Sye Shah

Area Coordinator - Outfitter

Alpiner since: 2015

Bonus: Knows 9 different languages

What's your passion? Love to hike, basketball, mostly spending time with my kids. Originally from Wilmington North Carolina, obviously love the beach and great seafood.

What's your favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself? The Blue Ridge Parkway.

Favorite Book: "Touching the Void" by Joe Simpson

Favorite Gear:
 

Joseph Beckerjeck

Assistant Manager / Training Manager

Alpiner since: 2014

What's your passion?  I'm passionate about pretty much all sports. I played volleyball in high school and I still play in a weekly sand league. I've also ran a half marathon.

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself"?  I have to go with Breckenridge, CO. The mountains are so calming and it's a great place to go off the grid for a while.

Favorite book? Harry Potter! I go back and read them every year!

Favorite Gear:
 

Hannah Miller

Assistant Manager, Area Coordinator Liaison

Alpiner since: 2020

What's your passion?  My biggest passion is wildlife conservation and education! My dream job would be doing behavioral research and observation with primates. Luckily, being outside and helping protect our wildlife is something I get to teach people every day at the Alpine Shop.

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself"?  Red River Gorge, Kentucky. Nothing feels better than being surrounded by the deciduous forests and limestone valleys of Kentucky.

Favorite book? The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Favorite Gear:
 

Danny Boyce

Area Coordinator - Men's outerwear

Alpiner since: 2019

What is your dream adventure?  IOne day soon I hope to take The Blue Train. This is a legendary train that runs in South Africa between Pretoria and Cape Town. It is a 1600 km journey through some of the most breathtaking scenery the world has to offer.

Favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself"?  IFor close and convenient day trips I will go and disappear out at Innsbrook.

Favorite book? Balanced Accountability: Leadership Secrets to Win Hearts and Maximize Performance By Hernani Alves

Favorite Gear:
 

Joe Stryjewski

Bike Mechanic - All-around good guy

Alpiner since: 2005

Bonus: 

  • Two Time, Undefeated Castlewood 8-Hour adventure Race Family Division Champion
  • Top 20 In The C Race Of A Dirt Crit
  • Two Time, Undefeated SIUC Intramural Canoe Race Champion
  • WEA Certified Outdoor Expedition Leader
  • Bachelor of Science in Recreation and Outdoor Recreation

What's your favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself? Bash Bish Falls

Favorite Book: "The Stinky Cheese Man" by Scieszka

Outdoor Meet-up Groups:

  • If you use trails in the St.Louis area you should belong to GORC. They build and maintain the trails that all types of users use and enjoy. Plus they're pretty nice people. https://gorctrails.com/

Favorite Gear:

  • I think everyone should be wearing SuperFeet in all of their shoes. 
 

Deb Mack

Outfitter

Alpiner since: 2018

Bonus: 

  • Former Girl Scout that still empowers and drives girls and young women to step into leadership roles

What's your favorite place to "Get Outside Yourself? Usually in my garden.

Dream Adventure: A long vacation in Banff. Maybe a couple of weeks to get lost in the mountains.

Favorite Book: I love maps, especially old ones.

Favorite Gear: Columbia and Kuhl