Mary E. Ilium to Festival shuttle

[lv2ski]

Hello,

It will be my first Telluride Bluegrass festival this year. Super excited! I will be camping at Mary E. Ilium campground Thursday to Sunday.

Anybody have any idea about to schedule of the shuttle between the campground and main street or somewhere downtown Telluride? I can't seem to find any info about it and stumbled on this forum which I hope I find my answers on!

I plan to hike a lot in the mornings, so I'd like to know if there is a shuttle, let's say around 5-6 am... I would rather not bring my bike, but I would also prefer not to walk 7-8 miles to the trail heads if possible.  Any info much appreciated.

[ToddG]

there are trail heads just across the road from Mary E. These trails feed the system of trails that go into and all around Telluride and the Ski resort. Couldn't tell you the bus schedule except it stops running around 2-3 am.

 Listening to: Dead Milkmen

[lv2ski]

there are trail heads just across the road from Mary E. These trails feed the system of trails that go into and all around Telluride and the Ski resort. Couldn't tell you the bus schedule except it stops running around 2-3 am.

Oh, that might be even better... I guess I could take a few hours to explore those trails when I get there, but I'd like to do the Sneffels highline trail one of the days, which might add more complexity to the water and food planning if I do those few miles before the 13+ expected.

Is hitchhiking pretty common in Telluride?

[ToddG]

I'd say hitching is easy in Colorado. From what I'm understanding, most the 13'rs and 14'rs still have a ton of snow, and still require minimal crampons, and ice axe, probably help to have snow shoes or skis to descend.

[Skubes]

There's no shoulder on the road from Mary E to town for someone to pull over, and it'll be pretty dark at those hours. I wouldn't recommend hitch hiking.

[lv2ski]

There's no shoulder on the road from Mary E to town for someone to pull over, and it'll be pretty dark at those hours. I wouldn't recommend hitch hiking.

That's true, I forgot there is no shoulder on that road...
I might just bring the bike then; I was just hoping to not have to deal with it.

I remember seeing a paved trail on the side of the main road to Telluride... is that going from the campground all the way to town or is it interrupting somewhere?

Thanks!

[ToddG]

That trail doesn't get all the way, but comes close, probably about 1.5-2 miles away from the trail that starts near Mary E.. I got a pretty good map of the region that has all the trails marked. I myself would hitch hike in any condition on any roads. But hitching at 4am might be tough just from lack of traffic. I grew up walking, hitching and riding alongside a curvy state highway without a shoulder so I don't think twice about that stuff. I do know in all my hitch hiking the best results always were in Colorado. If you have reflective clothing and good lights you should be fine.I'd say riding bike to trail heads you want to hike is probably the best bet. If I'm correct I hear some of the shuttle busses have bike racks on them if you didn't want to have to ride back at night. Might check that out for sure first though! We're bringing bikes and planning on riding everyday from Mary E. For sure riding on Saturday, and probably Thursday to the festival main stage.

[lv2ski]

Great ideas! Thanks.
I have all the biking and hiking gear that I need, so I'll bring that with me.

What map of the region did you get and where, if I may ask? I was looking for one of those too. I went on a few short hikes last summer there, but I would like to adventure on a few longer ones this year.

[ToddG]

I ordered the Trails Illustrated tear proof/waterproof topo map. It's map 141 in their catalogue, labeled Telluride/Silverton, Ouray/Lake City. Excellent company for maps, full color with trails, roads and major land and city features marked.
You can probably pick one up at any good Colorado outfitters. I ordered mine online a month or so back. If you don't find one, stop by our camp have a beer and check it out!

 Listening to: Danny Barnes

[lv2ski]

Thanks, Todd!
I just ordered mine and will have it in time for the festival. But I'll still stop by your camp for a beer and say hi. 
My friend and I are coming from Salt Lake City and it will be nice to meet other campers at M.E.I.