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FJ Summit 2019 (July 17-21)

39K views 287 replies 53 participants last post by  monflores11 
#1 ·
Can anyone start a Summit thread? If not, I apologize - sorry.

https://www.fjsummit.org/index.php

I see the home page is updated with dates (maybe it has been for some time now?). Who is all planning on coming? I plan on coming from Iowa w/ my family (wife, son - 15, and daughter - 11), and we're looking to see quite a bit of Colorado on our way there and back.

I went to the Summit in '08 and it was my first time wheeling - ever. What a rush! I can't remember all the trails I did. I'll have to look back at the forum or my pictures.
 
#4 ·
Vermont?! Five years in a row?! I'm dreading the drive again from Des Moines! (Well, the drive through Nebraska anyway) Ha!



Are there any "must see" things and/or routes I should take from Des Moines? I know we'll want to see a Rockies baseball game and they're in town on that Monday and Tuesday (Wed too, but I hope to be in Ouray by then), but some other things I've heard about or I want to see include:

Rocky Mountain National Park
Pikes Peak
Royal Gorge Bridge
Garden of the Gods
Cave of the Winds Mountain Park
US Air Force Academy
Coors Brewery

Those along with Telluride, Durango & the Million Dollar Hwy, Crawford State Park (last name)... So the plan was to drive into Denver or Estes Park and then around the north/central park of Colorado and down into Ouray from the north. Then leave Ouray from the south and make our way to Colorado Springs for the sites of interest over there. Is that a good path to take? Scenic?

Then the trail runs... IDK which ones to take. I'm not the adventurous type (no Black Bear for us!), but I don't mind pushing my FJ ('12 TT, no lift, BFG AT, etc) and seeing what needs to be seen. I think I did Alpine Loop last time, and maybe California?
 
#22 ·
Imogene is cool for a stock '12 TT FJ? I seem to remember that one as being a bit more toward the "hard" side of "moderate" as far as trails go. No?
 
#25 ·
In planning our Summit trip for the summer I didn't realize Moab was so close to Ouray. We have to stay in Denver the weekend prior to the Summit, but I'm thinkin' about going to Moab for the day early one morning instead of staying in Ouray, and then come back to Ouray in the evening.

Is that doable, or what do you guys suggest? Is Moab a day-trip, or is this something I should give more that one day? Please keep in mind I'm not a typical hard-core wheeler, and a few trails in Moab I think would suffice.
 
#27 ·
If you could spend the night in Moab it would be worth it, and the contrast between the two areas is is stunning. I’d recommend starting with Canyonlands (Islands in the Sky) to get the big picture, drop down to Longs Canyon (easy, gorgeous) and finish with Hells Revenge (legendary slickrock trail with bypasses for the hard stuff). That’s a long day...but doable, and gives you an overview of Moab. Drive from Ouray is pretty, takes roughly 2.5 hrs depending on traffic. Dont do it around dawn or dusk, as the deer are plentiful and unafraid - I’ve never seen anything like it...:surprise Also one section of highway goes through a free range area for cattle. Too bad you couldn't do Denver after Summit instead! :wink
 
#29 ·
The reason for Denver before the Summit is because of the Colorado Rockies' schedule. They aren't in town after the Summit and seeing a game at Coors Field was a huge "must do" for us while in Colorado. As well as Rocky Mountain National Park.

Anyone that's been to Rocky Mountain National Park, how long should I plan on being there? Is this somewhere I would want to spend the whole day? A few hours? One hour? We're not really into hiking, but can if it comes highly suggested, so the trip there would be to basically just see the sites, and what not.
 
#31 ·
I’ve been going to RockyMt Ntl Park since I was little, and while it is indeed beautiful, it’s increasingly crowded. Last time I went was summer ‘17 and the line waiting to get in was VERY long...followed by a huge, time consuming traffic jam inside the park and throngs of tourists in every park facility. I did the Trail Ridge road because of the amazing views and animals up there plus it works as a half day excursion.

One other comment on the Park - I’d just been in Ouray and I think the scenery there outshines that Ntl Park! The red streaked mountains along the Million Dollar Highway and up along Corkscrew and California passes are unparalleled....anywhere.... But if you do decide to do RMNP you could make a loop - north from Denver thru Boulder to Lyons, then back south along the Peak to Peak Highway, then funky Nederland and ending up in Central City (casinos) to hook up with I 70 and on to Ouray.

Your scenic return trip to Denver on a more southerly route can go across the high plains near Buena Vista where extremely high peaks look relatively small, and the unusually sunny weather created there has earned it the nickname “banana belt” lol If you want a quick way to connect with I 70 from there, go over Guanella Pass - it’s spectacular and all recently paved (maps still show it as dirt) and can help you avoid high traffic areas closer to Denver. You could run that whole loop I described in reverse if you’re starting from Ouray. All depends on how much time you have....I could expand :grin But you can’t go wrong - it’s all insanely beautiful!
 
#57 · (Edited)
Temperature notwithstanding, I had a better time at Moab Before the Summit's informal group runs than I did on FJ Summit's guided runs.

That said, I like the blasted red western US desert monolith aesthetic more than the lush, green, verdant & moist Colorado mountain aesthetic...

That's what we are trying to work out. Moab and the parks. Get a chance to use my Old Guy Lifetime National Park Pass. (which I got when it was only $10).

Really want it to do it during MOAB before Summit... :cheers:
Arches National Park is very close to the city of Moab - closer than some "Moab" trails. I interspersed Arches 4x4 and hiking with "Moab before the Summit" last year and it worked out great! Canyonlands is a bit farther but totally within "striking distance" if you make a day of it - if you want some national parks in with your MB4TS.

Tip: The parks are open 24/7. You can show up at 4:30am (around 1.5 hours before sunrise) to see the park if you want and you should. You'll spend the light but pre-sunrise time entering the park and getting to whatever it is you want to see, you'll get to see something right as the sun rises, and then you'll get to do the rest of your time in the park before the crowds and before the heat shows up.

Then if you want to just relax the rest of the day or go 4-wheeling in an air-conditioned vehicle, you can do that.
 
#32 ·
I agree the southern route to Colorado Springs and Denver is beautiful and there’s a couple of different routes you can take and the high plains are great. Cabin Cruiser has a tract of land for sale out there that you can see several 14ers from too, it’s an amazing view. If you go farther southeast you can also check out Royal Gorge which is breathtaking.
 
#33 ·
Yes, we didn't plan on staying in Ouray for the duration of the Summit, and we're probably leaving on Saturday and headed to Colorado Springs to see the Royal Gorge and also Pike's Peak - two things I've wanted to see since being a youngster.

I think we might have to skip RMNP from what I'm hearing (thanks, Deb!) and hopefully meet up with some of you in Moab before the Summit. What would the ideal schedule look like for my first Moab visit? Arrive on Sunday or Monday?

Also, the trail runs for the Summit begin on Thursday morning, right?
 
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#39 ·
Moab before Summit has its biggest days on the weekend, with some staying thru Tuesday. All runs gather in town at 8:30 am and depart by 9. Would recommend you arrive early Sunday - hope you can make it!

Yes official Summit runs start Thursday but many unofficial ones happen in the days before. Often people post up about it in the “other” Summit thread that hasn’t been created yet :wink
 
#38 ·
@CabinCruiser Another scenic drive is on hwy145 south from Telluride towards Rico and Trout Lake. I think that road eventually goes to Cortez. I drove down it for a bit one day when waiting for friends who were on trails for the Summit.
 
#42 ·
That's the route we always took and it is a nice drive.
 
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#68 ·
Has anyone booked a hotel room for the 2019 Summit yet? The Victorian Inn is no more.

We've stayed at the Victorian Inn for the past 9 of 10 years, and I just found out today that the Victorian Inn was bought out by Twin Peaks. It was always expensive to stay in Ouray, but we justified it as our family vacation. This year it will be almost double the cost to stay at the same placed we stayed last year. I really like staying close to the event, but I never wanted to stay at the Twin Peaks hotel with all the chaos of the event.

It looks like we will have to find a less expensive place to stay this year.

Anyone have a place they would like to recommend? Camping is only an option for the wife if the tent is in the hotel room.
 
#76 ·
Between Moab and Summit the Hotels are the Killers . For Just that 1 week it is almost 2500 for just my rooms . This now has my gears turning ? maybe buy a small trailer and mount a RTT on it . Or put a lift kit on my pop up trailer . Or just stay in my tent . Its just nice to be able to take a shower and not get rained on or cooked to death .
I camped out the 1st night at the amphitheater with a couple other FJers. I'll probably do that again this year and just rig up a shower of some sort.
 
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