OGE Outdoor Blog

Contact:
Josiah Roe
423.822.6850

Chattanooga, TN, January 14, 2008 - Rock/Creek has launched a new ecommerce site, developed by Chattanooga’s leading integrated design company, Coptix, Inc. The company has also named Coptix as its Interactive Agency of Record.

As a leading retailer of outdoor equipment and apparel, Rock/Creek sees the Internet as an opportunity for robust sales. The company has a long history of participation in the active life of Chattanooga and the larger outdoor community. Rock/Creek organizes grassroots events, educates customers on outdoor safety, how to get the most out of backcountry experiences, and promotes environmentally responsible recreation and stewardship.

“We’re delighted to roll out this latest version of our site,” said Rock/Creek Marketing Director Mark McKnight. “The new look and the functionality Coptix has developed builds on our 20-year brick and mortar heritage and responds to what we’ve learned from our web customers over the years.”

For the rebuild of the site, Coptix incorporated Rock/Creek’s newly developed visual identity and implemented the site with the latest in web-standards & search engine-friendly methods. The new site is much easier to update and maintain. Additionally, the Coptix tools and systems build upon and expand Rock/Creek’s ability to serve their customers in ways that enhance the outdoor experience.

“We are thrilled to partner with Rock/Creek, which is not only a cornerstone of the Chattanooga community, but is also pushing the envelope on how products can be taken to market on the internet,” said Coptix President Josiah Q. Roe.”

About Coptix
Coptix, Inc. is a leading integrated design firm in the Southeast, bringing clients holistic business development through branding, graphic design, internet marketing, ecommerce and software development.

About Rock/Creek
Rock/Creek, member of the Grassroots Outdoor Alliance, is an independent specialty outdoor retailer with over two decades of experience in the Southeast. Along with its online shops, RockCreek.com and ClimbingGear.com, Rock/Creek provides quality outdoor clothing and gear for a host of activities including kayaking, rock climbing, camping, hiking, trail running, travel, and adventure racing. Rock/Creek is committed to making a positive impact on the environment.

Dat’s right. You best subscribe to the SALE CATEGORY of this blog. OGE is expanding more and more all the time and that means a crap load more promos will be posted here. The latest features Mountain Hardwear, a solid company with bomber gear and apparel. Here is the email verbatim we received from Mark from RockCreek.com just yesterday:

As the temperature starts to drop and the leaves begin to fall, it’s time to start thinking about warm weather gear. Just in time, we’ve started a two week Mountain Hardwear Sale here at Rock/Creek, so get out your gear list and stock up for your cold-weather backpacking, hiking, climbing, and travel needs. We have fleece, down jackets, sweaters, tents, and more on sale for two weeks. Shop online today; the sale ends November 15th.

Click the banner below and you’ll land on the summary page for the Mountain Hardwear sale @ RockCreek.com.

Contact: Mountain Hardwear Inc. Public Relations
Paige Boucher or Erin Brosterhous
(970) 871-1308

To venerate all that is woman, Mountain Hardwear is devoting the month of October 2007 to women around the world.

In Chattanooga, TN, retailer Rock/Creek is co-hosting a Mountain Hardwear Ladies’ Night on October 25th, 2007. During this event, ladies will discuss women-specific gear and apparel design, shop for hot new outdoor styles and enjoy the camaraderie of other women. The event will take place at Rock/Creek’s new downtown location at 301 Manufacturers Road. There will be refreshments and appetizers, 10% off all Mountain Hardwear gear and apparel, free Tasha scarves for sales over $100, and free product raffles. All questions will be answered by the Rock/Creek staff. For more information on this local event, call Rock/Creek at 423.265.5969.

Mountain Hardwear is using this opportunity to raise awareness about HERA Women’s Cancer Foundation, one of the company’s Gives Back grantees. HERA is committed to finding solutions to ovarian cancer by empowering women with information, supplying researchers with the resources to find new directions in early detection, and providing treatment and prevention through community support. The HERA Foundation is a registered non-profit that donates over 85% of funds to the cause through programs including research grants, community grants and HERA Climb4Life — a series of rock climbing fund raising events that attract women, men and children of all ages. Climb4Life events have raised over a $500,000 while touching thousands of lives and generating awareness of ovarian cancer.

Do you know a Mountain Hardwear Diva? Mountain Hardwear invites you to nominate a friend (or yourself) to be recognized as a Mountain Hardwear Diva. To nominate a Diva, give us 300 words on why she is a Mountain Hardwear Diva and how Mountain Hardwear gear helps her out. Include a photo or two to illustrate her diva status. We’ll post all entries on our new blog devoted to divas of all walks, climbs and rides.

Click for Large Event Poster

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400 Ultrarunners attend 7th Annual Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K and raise $4000 for the Cumberland Trail Conference.

Contact:
Mark McKnight
423.266.8200 ext. 1113
mark@rockcreek.com

Chattanooga, TN, October 10, 2007 - 400 trail running enthusiasts tackled unseasonably warm conditions at the 7th annual Stumpjump 50k. The race sold out months in advance. “Despite the heat, this was probably the best StumpJump we’ve put together yet,” said Race Director Jamie Sanders; “We were happy that it sold out early and that we were able to expand this year’s race.” The heat did take it’s toll, with over 20 runners pulling out. It’s doubtful that anyone set a personal record this year. Ultrarunner Matt Karzen, Rock/Creek Race Team member, summed it up well: “StumpJump 2007 was the toughest 50K I’ve run. The topography makes it a challenge, but the unseasonably warm temps this year made wise pacing and diligent hydration key. I didn’t do either very well, and boy did I pay for it.”

The race raised $4000 for the Cumberland Trail Conference for trail work on the 300-plus-mile long Cumberland Trail. The Trail, still under construction, stretches across the state of Tennessee from Chattanooga to Cumberland Gap. The Rock/Creek StumpJump 50K course starts on Signal Mountain at Nolan Elementary and runs into Suck Creek Gorge into Prentice Cooper Wildlife Management Area, where the runners complete the Mullens’ Cove Loop on Walden Ridge, then head back across Suck Creek to finish at Nolan Elementary.

Eric Grossman from Emory, VA won the race with a time of 4:33:32. Several sponsored athletes showed up for the event, raising the level of competition.

Both owners of Rock/Creek, Dawson Wheeler and Marvin Webb, are long time residents of Signal Mountain, and were heavily involved in the event:

“The topography, the tremendous elevation gain, views of the Tennessee River, Suck Creek Gorge, enthusiastic volunteers, great sponsors, incredible race bags and prize packages: all these elements add up to make the Rock/Creek StumpJump one of the premier races in the country. The natural beauty of the Cumberland Trail cannot be matched,” Wheeler explained.

Be sure to save the date for next year’s race, taking place October 4, 2008.

Check out full race results and photography or read the entire press release…

We have some killer deals to feature on The North Face products. For this post, we’ll highlight a sale from Rock/Creek Outfitters. If you’re familiar with the brand you know that TNF doesn’t go on sale very often, so take advantage of these discounts on the most popular outdoor apparel on the planet. Here are the details from en email we just received:

Greetings from RockCreek! Just dropping a quick note to let you know that we have a two week North Face Sale starting today. The sale runs through October 18th…

If you’re a fan of The North Face, you know it doesn’t go on sale very often. We have the popular Denali Fleece Jackets on sale as well as Denali Thermals, daypacks, 3-in-1 jackets, and more.

To redeem these savings, you must click on the banner below, then shop away. Discounts will automatically apply at checkout.

We have another round of killer deals to post about. I’ll start with this Chaco sandals discount offer, going on right now, where youz can get up to 40% off retail on their products (2007 colors)…it’s part of the Fall Footwear Sale at Rock/Creek. It’s going on right now through October 3rd 2007. Dang, I really like posting about Rock/Creek. Take a look at a few of our posts in our outdoor industry news category about these guys. You gotta feel good buying from a company like this.

The Chaco deals are worth mentioning, but this is a Footwear sale and not a Chaco-exclusive sale. Here are the specifics of the discounts directly from RockCreek’s email:

Greetings from RockCreek Outfitters! I’m happy to announce our two week Shoe Sale today. The sale runs through October 3rd, and this is one of our biggest categories. A lot of footwear needs to move so get what you need now for next summer and save money.

Fall Footwear Sale! up to 40% Off - You always need shoes, but the Fall Footwear Sale at Rock/Creek ends October 3rd, with markdowns generally running between 10-40%, now’s the time to stock up.

Chaco Sandals up to 40% Off - Chaco Sandals are our biggest seller, and the markdowns are getting deeper on 2007 colors, now up to 40% off. This sale also ends October 3rd, so don’t waste any time!

Yep. As we’ve been saying, summer sales are on. We’ve already mentioned the Backcountry Semi-Annual Sale and Altrec’s Summer Clearance today, but we can’t forget our friend’s at RockCreek.com. Here’s a quick snapshot of these guys, now runnin’ with the big boys.

RockCreek.com is one of the fastest growing and most committed outdoor specialty stores currently online as a result of a great reputation and integrity. This store is worth checking out, really.

Here are the specifics of their summer blowout. This is verbatim from their notification email we received at OGE:

Well, you knew it was coming, right? Here it is. The final markdowns for summer clothing and gear have been released, and we don’t expect these deals to stick around long. The sale runs through August 30th, with markdowns generally running between 30-50%, with some exceptions going even deeper than that.

It’s important to note like the others. To redeem these savings click on the banner below. Happy shopping hippies.

RockCreek Outfitters just emailed us and their running a couple of cool promos for the month of June. They asked that we make sure ya’ll take note so here the are: These promos include a raffle for a paddlesport helmet giveaway and a free CamelBak Better Bottle (hydrate or die!) with purchase of a pair of Chacos. There’s no limit on dates for the free Better Bottle, just while supplies last, so have at them.

Just a reminder, you can feel good knowing you’re buying from a company like RockCreek.com who is dedicated to giving back. They’re very active in preserving recreational areas and environmental stewardship around the southeaster US and beyond. Here’s a recent snippet from an industry news piece we ran on the blog a couple of months ago:

RockCreek.com awards footwear manufacturer, Chaco, Inc., for outstanding dedication to environmental sustainability and efforts to improve access to natural outdoor recreation areas. Chaco partners with retailers to fund local and global initiatives, offsets 100% of its electrical usage with wind power, and has adopted policies such as paying its own employees to bike or walk to work.

Full Article: RockCreek.com Honors Chaco with Stewardship Award

Now back to the promo. Take note: You must click the banners below to take advantage of these special offers from RockCreek outfitters!

Are you waiting for the right time to buy that North Face Denali Fleece? This only happens a couple of times a year…and when it does happen, inventory flies off store shelves so don’t fart around. Right now at RockCreek.com ALL North Face products are heavily discounted. Save 20-30% off retail on some of the best outdoor gear and apparel on the planet.

If you haven’t bought from or checked out RockCreek yet, now is the time. These folks are a dedicated group of enthusiasts who care about environmental stewardship and preservation efforts. Check out some of the recent news from RockCreek (RockCreek River Gorge Trail Race raised $1500 for the Cumberland Trail Conference) we posted in our Industry News category. More info about this retailer:

Rock Creek Outfitters is a specialty outdoor retailer based in Tennessee with 20+ years of industry experience. With a dedicated staff of gear experts, Rock Creek offers only the very best outdoor apparel and equipment from top brands like Marmot, Patagonia, The North Face, and others to ensure that customers are comfortable and safe in the outdoors.

OK back to the killer TNF sale. This is IMPORTANT: You must click the banner below to redeem the 20-30% discount on ALL NORTH FACE PRODUCTS at RockCreek.

For Immediate Release
Mark McKnight
423.643.1528
mark@rockcreek.com

Outdoor retailer awards footwear manufacturer, Chaco, Inc., for outstanding dedication to environmental sustainability and efforts to improve access to natural outdoor recreation areas. Chaco partners with retailers to fund local and global initiatives, offsets 100% of its electrical usage with wind power, and has adopted policies such as paying its own employees to bike or walk to work. Rock Creek Outfitters challenges others in the industry to follow Chaco’s lead.

Chattanooga, TN, April 23, 2007 — RockCreek.com announced today that it has awarded footwear manufacturer, Chaco, of Paonia, Colorado its first annual Environmental Stewardship Award.

Chaco’s dedication to environmental issues and improving access to outdoor recreation areas prompted Rock Creek to start the annual award.

“These issues have always been at the heart of Rock Creek,” explained Rock Creek co-owner, Marvin Webb. “Chaco has really stepped up to the plate over the years, helping us fund larger projects so we have an even stronger impact within our region. They have not only supported us in our own programs, but they have also actively come to us with new ideas for local and global initiatives.”

Read The Entire Press Release Article…

For more information on Rock Creek’s environmental initiatives, visit:
http://www.rockcreek.com/articles/environmental/envirohome.asp

For Immediate Release
Mark McKnight
423.643.1528
mark@rockcreek.com

Chattanooga, TN, April 18, 2006 - Rock/Creek Outfitters (www.rockcreek.com) announced today that the Rock Creek River Gorge Trail Race raised $1500 for the nonprofit Cumberland Trail Conference (CTC). According Paul Freeman from the CTC, Rock Creek’s donation will go to the Spring Build, supporting up to 100 volunteers a day as they extend the Cumberland Trail near Caryville, TN. The Cumberland Trail is a beautiful multi-use foot path that will eventually stretch over 300 miles on the Cumberland Plateau.

About 230 people showed up to run, making this the best turnout in the 6 year history of the race. As director Jamie Sanders explains, “We’re very pleased to have a successful race that draws so many concerned people from across the region.” The race took place on a beautiful Spring morning, with the first racers showing up for registration before dawn.

Comment from the Rock/Creek Outfitter President:

“…the work of the CTC dovetails perfectly with our mission to get people outside enjoying our natural resources. We believe that people who have access to the outdoors will naturally become conservationists and will work to preserve the areas where they recreate. It’s great to see so many people up here enjoying the natural beauty of Signal Mountain.”

Read The Entire Press Release…

For more information on the Rock Creek River Gorge Trail Race, visit
http://www.RockCreek.com/RiverGorge/

For photography, see
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rockcreek/sets/72157600045406389/

For more information on the CTC’s Spring Build, visit
http://www.cumberlandtrail.org/bigdig.html