Town Park virgin? Get your answers here!

[Hot Sugar]

Hello!

I'm new to all of this! I will be camping at Clayton Campround in the San Juans and only will be attending the festival on Sunday. I'll be driving in and I heard I can park for free at Mountain Village, ride the free gondola up to the festival. Is that right? Where do I go after that to get my tickets traded for a wristband and how early do people starting lining up to go get there spots to listen to the music? Do I have this all right? I dunno! Help!

Thanks!

Yes. You can park for free in mountain village and then take the gondola into Telluride, also for free! The box office is right next to the festival entrance and that's where you'll trade your ticket for a wristband. As for how early people start lining up for a spot, that depends on where you want your spot to be. If you want to be up close, you're going to be out of luck, as everyone who has a tarp in front of the sound board had someone spend the night in line for their spot. If you want to be farther back with a more comfortable, high back chair, you can usually stroll in and find something once they've opened the gate.

My recommendation, if it's just you or a small party, is to not worry about staking out a spot. I spent my first three years at the festival as part of a 3 person group, and we never laid out a tarp. We would just walk up to an empty (or mostly empty) tarp and sit there until the owners returned. Then we'd strike up a conversation with the owners and there would usually be enough room for us to stay, or we'd find a different tarp. Offering to make a beer run usually helps!  I never once had a bad experience tarp hopping in those three years and I was always close enough for my taste.

[PhillyGirl]

Lets talk elevation.

My friend is flying in from CA. She has taken a few day trips to higher elevation spots, CO once, and said she didn't have a problem with the elevation at all. Had one beer in CO and said she was more buzzed but the beer is also higher % than where we're originally from. Do people find that festivating can bring on the side effects of elevation that were not previously present? AKA, if she was fine sober will she be not? She is a solid person so I think she will be fine but I don't want her time to get ruined by something like that either...

Thanks! See you in a week!

[IMHBTR]

My only answer is to drink lots and lots of H20. It seems to cure most ills for me but you need to be consistent and drink H20 all day.
I drink 10 times more water at TBF than I would ever drink at home on a summer drinking day. Granted, my home is not in high elevation.

 Listening to: FM-no static at all

[nfire]

My only answer is to drink lots and lots of H20. It seems to cure most ills for me but you need to be consistent and drink H20 all day.
I drink 10 times more water at TBF than I would ever drink at home on a summer drinking day. Granted, my home is not in high elevation.

yep H20 for any raucous colorado activity that you choose to engage in.  be it TBF, hikes, camping, anything.  staying hydrated keeps you rockin hard. 

[Pirate Looks at --]

Lets talk elevation.

My friend is flying in from CA. She has taken a few day trips to higher elevation spots, CO once, and said she didn't have a problem with the elevation at all. Had one beer in CO and said she was more buzzed but the beer is also higher % than where we're originally from. Do people find that festivating can bring on the side effects of elevation that were not previously present? AKA, if she was fine sober will she be not? She is a solid person so I think she will be fine but I don't want her time to get ruined by something like that either...

Thanks! See you in a week!

I am from California and it takes some getting used too. Drink lots of water say two glasses for every beer and that will compensate for some of the elevation. But it will take a couple of days to acclimate to the elevation. Take it slow and eventually your body will allow you to adjust. BTW there are no restrictions on Alcohol levels in California for beer, so lay off the Bud Lite

[Hot Sugar]

Lets talk elevation.

My friend is flying in from CA. She has taken a few day trips to higher elevation spots, CO once, and said she didn't have a problem with the elevation at all. Had one beer in CO and said she was more buzzed but the beer is also higher % than where we're originally from. Do people find that festivating can bring on the side effects of elevation that were not previously present? AKA, if she was fine sober will she be not? She is a solid person so I think she will be fine but I don't want her time to get ruined by something like that either...

Thanks! See you in a week!

Water really is your best friend when adjusting to altitude. And keep in mind that alcohol and other substances have a much higher effect on those who partake. I come every year from MT, so not exactly low elevation, and I always find my tolerance in Telluride isn't what it is at home.

[Josh P]

Is anybody interested in a Mountain or Road ride before the fest, Mon - Wed?  TBF veteran but Town Park virgin 

[Bevin]

Is anybody interested in a Mountain or Road ride before the fest, Mon - Wed?  TBF veteran but Town Park virgin 

I'm trying to get my butt in shape (literally) for RAGBRAI and will have my road bike with me in Town Park.  Looking to get out for a couple of rides out to the airport and back or something.  I need to keep the riding going, but my first priority is the Town Park experience, so I won't be up for any century rides or climbing Lizard Head Pass or anything, but I do need saddle time during the week at some point. 

I'm easy to find.

[AlohaGirl]

Bringing my bike as well. But, mostly just to mosey up the road a piece for provisions!

[AlohaGirl]

Okay..my ETA has changed. I am arriving tonight after 10PM

[AlohaGirl]

I am here on a cot looking at a full moon and listening to a babbling brook in Town Park and there is WiFi.[

[Linds]

I am here on a cot looking at a full moon and listening to a babbling brook in Town Park and there is WiFi.[

Oh wow.  *That's* new.  Where are you camped?  I usually have to work for the first few days I'm there, so if there's a place to get wifi without trekking over to Baked in Telluride or the library, I'm stoked!

[Maple Al]

After getting Mary's tent staked down she was fine, she was ready to leave almost.
Town Park is great as always.

 Listening to: John Hartford Telluride 1988

[Mackeyfive]

Town Park load in - please tell me if I have this right.  Arriving Wednesday afternoon around 4:00.

1) show tickets entering town
2) get wristbands (where?)
3) drive to town park campground -- 15 minutes to unload
4) drive to designated parking area and leave car

At town park, we're arriving late by festival standards.  Are there volunteers there to help direct us to available spots?

One member of our group is at the high school campground.  Assuming we should unload there first?

Thanks for helping TP virgin.

[HuckinFappy]

Town Park load in - please tell me if I have this right.  Arriving Wednesday afternoon around 4:00.

1) show tickets entering town
2) get wristbands (where?)
3) drive to town park campground -- 15 minutes to unload
4) drive to designated parking area and leave car

At town park, we're arriving late by festival standards.  Are there volunteers there to help direct us to available spots?

One member of our group is at the high school campground.  Assuming we should unload there first?

Thanks for helping TP virgin.

You're going to get sent out to Carhenge to park probably (don't ask), so I'd go ahead and to the TP unload, then drop your HS buddy off on the way back to park.   

You'll get the wristband at the box office, which you'll try to hit on the way back to camp.  Someone can tell you where it is.   There will be plenty of volunteers around....no worries