Virgin TBG Festivarian/ AKA experienced CA Festy w/Illium camping.

[stiljamn]

  Greetings from another place & SO STOKED to be coming to Telluride. I know how to do Festivals WELL, BUT have many questions about being 7 miles from event. I've read that the shuttles are pretty tight to bring gear for the day's events. I'm good at packing my low lawn chair w/back pack for hot days down to cold nights. Keep hearing it's a hassle as well as tight squeeze. Seems to be the only option. Advise please.
Cool to leave chair & run back to camp for r&r without territory being lost?
 Illium looks beautiful, please share your thoughts. I plan on being there Sunday before festival to chill & get a layout of the land. Oddly enough I've been in this "box" canyon before but it was early 80's on a hunting trip. (camp cook, not hunter)
I think bottom line is I'm used to waking up, hearing the music/stage & just strolling on over. Doing this alone so need to know how best to handle the 'commute'.   
THANKS to any that share.
NOT used to discussion boards, feel free to email me, think I set it up to reveal address.

 Listening to: Lucinda Williams/ World without tears

[TellurideTom]

My first thought was why would anyone take the time to go back to Illium for r&r during the music? Unless there's a couple of back to back sets that you're not interested in it seems a waste of time.
I wouldn't worry about leaving your chair and tarp in the festival during a trek back and forth as long as you get back before dark. Once the sun goes down the crowd tends to move in a solid wave toward the stage so chairs and tarps should be gathered.
If you don't make it back before the end of the evenings music then your chair and tarp may get tossed since you can't leave them overnight.
Welcome, and have fun.

[Hot Sugar]

I stayed in Illium in 2008 and 2009. The commute isn't bad as long as you make sure to get in the shuttle line with plenty of time (an hour+) to spare before the set you want to get up for. Once you're up, I recommend staying up. Going back to Illium during the day is a hassle. You could end up missing the set you most want to see that way. If you need to relax a bit, head into to town for a bite to eat or make friends with a festivarian with a sunshade set up in the back. Mary E. is a gorgeous area. You'll have a blast this summer. If you're there by Sunday, make sure to make it up to Town Park for some pre-fest! 

 Listening to: Darrell Scott

[Mark J]

We stayed in Illium in 2000 & tried to go back during the day/Festival & just missed too much.  Like previously mentioned, it is a very nice camping area but you should try to bring all your stuff in the morning & stay there all day!  Have fun!

[completejohn]

The second time I stayed in Illium, I was fortunate to have a friend in Town Park.  I would meet him in the morning (post tarp-run) and hand him my winter clothes and my pre-stashed chair.  At 6pm, he'd bring me the clothes.  At 8, he took his chair AND my chair back to TP for the night. 

So if you don't have a friend in TP yet, Thursday is a great time to make one!

(pssst - buying a round of beer helps!)

[BlueGrass Bandit]

  make sure you plan ahead if yous go to a nitegrass show.. the shuttles quit before the bands do.... we walked it bak our first BG exp~~

 Listening to: Hot Rize High on the Mtn Top

[Jake n Wanda Ziller]

Illium is great! I've been to the fest many times over the years and for one reason or another I've not camped at Ilium until my last trip up '09 I s'pose. I loved it and will be there again this year. All the campers there were from nice to a lot of fun. The mornings in can be tight if you have to be on the first bus or two during rush hour in the morning but otherwise they are pretty laid back. Coming back it's the same just plan to not be in the early rush for the busses right as the last act closes. Getting back during the day is easy and I always leave tarp, chairs, cooler at fest to make those day trips. Expect if you do run back you will miss an act or two. Campground is usually quiet during the day and early evening then starts to liven up as folks begin wandering in as they close out their evening.

 Listening to: AC Jobim and friends

[MN 5 via JH]

We are doing Illium and TBF for first time with three kids ages 7, 7 and 9.  Not worried about seeing every band or the commute to town, but do have some concerns about the kids getting some sleep, which is why we picked Illium. 

1) Are we dreaming that we and the kids will be doing any dreaming at night?
2) How early in the week do we need to roll in to get a decent camp spot? 
3) Any other suggestions for family of newbies at Illium and TBF?
4) Can you bike relatively easily to town and back or is it real hilly/dangerous?

Thanks! 

 Listening to: Dead Man Winter

[skyrunner]

 Hello, I will agree with everyone else, Ellium is great! As far as your concerns go. Here is my humble opinion.
 1. You are not dreaming about getting some dream time for everybody. Most every one is pretty respectfull for the most part.
 2. I personally am getting there on Teusday. In years past that seemed to be good enough for me.
 3. If you want to meet someone that is probablly a great person, turn you head and say "hi". I have found so many new friends that way.
 4. I have never been that far on the bike path, so I do not know how close to the camp ground it gett's. You DO NOT want to try and ride the road to town on the highway. Thats just me, But I would never put a kid on that road. Allthough some of the buss's from time to time had bike racks I think.
  Have a great time, It is a great place! 

 Listening to: Dela Mae

[FaceOnMars]

Haven't been on that part of the bike path (Galloping Goose) in a long time, but I remember it being a somewhat challenging singletrack with a fairly decent vertical gain/drop for the section between Lawson Hill & Illium (it's otherwise flat from LH to town).

So, unless your kids are on the truly athletic/adventurous/risk taking side of things and it's still light out, I wouldn't advise (or count on) taking that route via bike as a family.   For that matter, wouldn't advise it for most adults either ... although it can definitely be done if you're prepared (headlights) and know what you're doing (for real), but it is a far cry better than the highway.

I imagine that it'd be a bit less risky to bike to LH, chain up your bike, and then hike down to illium ... would probably be about an hour+ journey if you find yourself 'stranded' in town after nightgrass & the busses have stopped running.  Even hiking you have to be prepared (headlight) and not stumbling drunk.

[ckshusker]

Since this is about camping at Illium I will post my question here.  Hope its not too weird.

If one person has a 4day pass but others in the party have 4 single day tickets...are you allowed to camp at Illium or everyone in camp has to have 4day passes?  thanks everyone.

[Debbiefromtucson]

I would ask Planet Bluegrass that to be positive....  and let us know

[TellurideTom]

Since this is about camping at Illium I will post my question here.  Hope its not too weird.

If one person has a 4day pass but others in the party have 4 single day tickets...are you allowed to camp at Illium or everyone in camp has to have 4day passes?  thanks everyone.

According to the Planet Bluegrass site the only campground that does not require a 4 day pass is Lawson Hill. For Lawson camping single day passes are allowed.
If you don't have a 4 day pass you cannot camp at Ilium.