We were tickled at having just received our team photo from this year’s Canadian Cup held at last month’s Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.  We couldn’t resist sharing it here on the blog.

The Canadian Cup for the Conservation Alliance was a 14-team street hockey tourney with teams from Arc’teryx, Baffin, Camelbak, Canada Goose, Eddie Bauer, Icebreaker, Nikwax, OIA, Outdoor Retailer, Prana, PrimaLoft, Rogers Corporation, Yukon Charlie’s, and Woolrich battling it out for the coveted “Cup” with all proceeds benefitting the Conservation Alliance.

To see all the photos from this great event, sponsored by Canada Goose, check out their Flickr Photo album.

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

In an admittedly challenging year for finding good snow, we were pleased to get some really great feedback from the folks at Gumption Gear, who managed to find some of the white stuff & spent some quality time on our new Icon Alpha snowshoes for Men & Women.  The result was an in depth review of our features, how the shoes performed, and some really great feedback on where we may have some room for improvement with future product development.

If you’re considering our new Icon Alpha series, you’ll definitely want to check out their review here.  A huge thank you to Gumption Gear for their efforts in putting forth this quality article & feedback!

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

We are pleased to announce, recently, our official 2012 Yukon Charlie’s Lookalike: Gabe Perkins!

A resident of Bethel Maine, Gabe was officially voted “best lookalike” by Outdoor Retailer Winter Market 2012 attendees via blind ballot, and is the happy recipient of $500 in Yukon Charlie’s gear.  We’re proud to hear that, not only is he enjoying his new gear, but he’s also donating some of his winnings to a cause that is near & dear to his heart: The Maine Adaptive Sports & Recreation‘s Ski-A-Thon (which he and his wife help organize).

Already a local hero, apparently, impersonation runs in Gabe’s family, as per a wonderful feature in the Bethel Citizen, which you can read here.

We invite you to welcome Gabe as our proud new “spokesperson” via the comments below.  Congrats Gabe & we couldn’t be more proud!

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

This week’s Dealer of the Week is Next Adventure in Portland, Oregon.  This alternative outdoor store has been gearing folks up since 1997. Whether you are a kayaker, climber, snowboarder, hiker, camper, skier, cyclist, mountaineer, or just someone who loves the outdoors, they can help you with your next adventure!

The team at Next Adventure loves to play in the outdoors, and their goal is to make it easy for you to get out there and enjoy it, too! We want to get the right gear to the right person for the right price.

In the beginning, it was just Deek, Bryan and a small shop full of cardboard boxes on SE Grand Avenue.

Some of the Next Adventure Crew...Out & About

Over the years, they have grown significantly, moving into bigger digs and gathering an expert crew of experienced outdoor enthusiasts. Poke around their shop, and you can still find the cardboard boxes. They bring you incredible savings with close-outs, dealer samples, and used equipment along with all of the latest and greatest brand name gear at great prices. Their inventory is changing all of the time, so be sure to check online often to find the latest, greatest deals.

At Next Adventure, the customer is #1. Their non-commissioned crew ain’t there for the money – you can tell that they love what they do. And what they do is help you get the gear you need to get out there and do it right – all at a price you can afford.

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

So many of us all across the country are still starved for a good snowfall, so we can get out & play…we’re thinking that perhaps tapping into a collective energy will help.  Will you all join us in a few rounds of the snowshoe dance?!

This fantastic video was created by Evan Williams, a creative and adventurous dude who enjoys the outdoors and technology, and is an avid explorer of the Adirondack Region in Northern New York State, along with his main squeeze, Hilary. They maintain a fantastic guide to the Adiondacks at PureADK.com.

Music by Earth, Wind & Fire – “September”

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

After a long & competitive month of voting by their friends & family along with you, our awesome Yukon Charlie’s fans, we have five great Yukon Charlie’s dopplegangers who have officially been declared finalists in our Lookalike Contest!

Gordon D from Maple Ridge BC

Gabe P from Bethel ME

Denis K from Lumby BC

Luke D from Houston TX

John H from Port Carling ON

These five contestants will now move on as official finalists.  The winner will be voted for by attendees of the upcoming Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.  If you are attending the show, be sure to swing by booth #34097 to cast your vote by 3PM on Saturday, Jan 21.  All who vote will be entered into our random drawing for all sorts of great Yukon Charlie’s gear!

We’ll be tallying votes and announcing our official winner during our Beer & Gear Raffle + Lookalike Contest Celebration at the booth on Saturday, January 21, 2012 from 4:30 PM – 6PM.  Save some time in your show planner to come by for Free beer, free stuff (raffle for those who voted), and be the first to hear who our official winner will be.

The lucky winner with the most votes at Outdoor Retailer will win $500 in Yukon Charlie’s gear!  Good luck finalists, and stay tuned for the official public announcement of our winner on January 23.

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

This week’s featured dealer is a great Wasau, Wisconsin supplier of the gear you need for “Sports for all Seasons”, Shepherd & Schaller.

Everyone at Shepherd & Schaller is pumped to work with the best products and manufacturers in outdoor specialty sports.  Their personalized customer care can provide you with advice on the latest technologies, marvels of engineering, trend setting fabrics and fashions for snowboarding and skiing, biking, water sports, camping, tennis and more.  Their attitude: “We sell grown up toys to grown up kids.”  What’s not to love about that?!

Their sales team is made up of athletes and enthusiasts who love to play hard and work hard.  Most come to us with personal experience in the sports they sell and all are trained to know everything about the products you’re considering.

We love these guys, and think you will too!  If you’re in Wasau, WI, be sure to stop in & say hello.  If you’re the “social” type, you can find ‘em on Facebook & Twitter too.

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

We are pleased to honor this week’s “Dealer of the Week”: Northwest Outlet!

Northwest Outlet has been a family owned & operated fixture in the Twin Ports of Superior, WI and Duluth, MN as well as the upper Midwest for over 50 years.  With a focus on great customer service, products and services, they have built great relationships with local customers in Superior, WI who have also become their friends.

The Northwest Outlet product assortment includes a full line of sporting goods from Fishing and Hunting items, Camping gear, Footwear, Clothing and Outerwear from names like Columbia Sportswear and Carhartt, kayaks by Old Town, truck toppers by Century, and all the accessories to outfit them…and of course, a full assortment of Yukon Charlie’s Snowshoes (in store only)! Their staff is the knowledgeable, not only because they sell the products, but because they use the products they sell.  In addition to a friendly store at 1814 Belknap Street, Superior, WI, they also offer a wide assortment of products online.

Be sure to check them out for all of your outdoor needs this Winter!

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids

National and State Park rangers still have a lot to do once the busy Summer tourist season winds down.  From maintaining trails, to building winter-specific boundaries, area patrol responsibilities, general emergencies, and more…generally with more limited staff than the Summer, these guys really work hard to make sure we can have fun and be safe while enjoying the parks all Winter long.

Thanks to TV 6 in Michigan, here’s a great insiders’ look at what these guys are up to in the Winter months:

Know a park ranger who works hard all winter? Give ‘em props by thanking them in the comments below!

Photo Credit: Main image, courtesy of Joanne via Flickr.

Yukon Charlies Winter Systems - Snowshoes for Men, Women & Kids