Parking Question

[BigMama]

The camping info booklet states:
"If you have purchased a vehicle pass for one of our campgrounds, you may keep your car in the campground. Be forewarned, however, that once you park in a campground you will not be able to drive in and out until after the Festival."
It continues:
"If you do not have a vehicle camping pass, you can unload your gear at your campground and then move your car to a designated parking lot."

I will be camping at Mary E Illium. I do NOT have a vehicle pass. Can anyone tell me:
1. Will I be able to move my car in and out of the "designated parking lot" if I want to get away from the festival and see other parts of the area (not the town of Telluride)?

2. Where is the "designated parking lot" in relation to the campground?

 Listening to: Peter Rowan on Folk Alley.com

[Hippie]

  The best thing for you to do is park your car up in Mountain Village and enjoy the ride up in the gondola when you want to sightsee in the area. Once you park in the "designated" parking areas it can be difficult to move your car. In camp vehicle passes should be reserved for folks that REALLY need to have a vehicle to sleep in, you'll find that good festivarians really do not like empty cars sitting around in the campground. It's not a very good way to make new friends.

It more than likely that once you arrive and enter into the festival spirit your car will be forgotten until it's time to leave on Monday morning. I've found that there is plenty to do around town and a car is only needed for getting there and getting home. Walking is easy and the shuttles are frequent and efficient.

Hope this helps.

[BigMama]

Thank you, Hippie!  Your posts have provided a wealth of information.

Originally, we were toying with the idea of renting a minivan and sleeping in it because 1.) airline baggage charges have gotten crazy, and 2.) we haven't tent camped in many years. But, when I could not get a vehicle pass, I decided to invest in a Colorado-worthy tent and two really nice sleeping pads. So now our only camping-related concern is BEARS.  Really. My husband's first question after I told him we were camping was "What about bears?

[Hippie]

  Bears will head for the hills....

  I'd be more afraid of pony tailed Mexicans and tie dyed hippie's carrying bottles of this beverage called crunchy frog... 

[Hooch]

Mostly the bears will only eat your small children so no worries.  But after the children then the bears go for either your bacon or honey.  This is a bigger problem.  I watched a documentary once (Winne the Pooh something...) that says to close up and seal all your food and garbage at night, so if you just take small precautions then you should be just fine.  And since you will be in a camp ground then you will have zero problems due to bears having a dislike of numbers.  Plus we've had a good spring so their normal food should be plentiful. 

[BigMamaJ40]

Alas, we will not be bringing our child (Freedom!). I'll forgo honey for personal safety, but there's NO WAY I'm going without bacon!

Crunchy frog...I'm intrigued

 Listening to: Patty Loveless "God Will"

[completejohn]

I've borrowed a couple of kids to keep the bears busy (I told them we're going to Jellystone to visit Yogi and BooBoo).  If I have any left on Monday morning, I'll be sure to put them in the recycle bin.