Colorado Western Slope and FJ Summit Vacation (20110716-24)

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Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 - Mineral Creek  |  CO-Convoy  |  Poughkeepsie Gulch Night Run




As most people reading this know, there is an event in Ouray, Colorado every year in July called the FJ Summit.
While there are many other great events around the country throughout the year,
this is the preeminent national gathering of Toyota FJ Cruiser owners.

Wednesday is the first 'official' day of the Summit. Some of us start our vacation earlier in the week
(e.g. JammerGirl and I usually come the Saturday before since we usually spend a week in Ouray during July anyway,
and have been for many years before we ever got the FJC in 2008).
Others trickle in as the week goes by,
but the vast majority of the participants in the extended weekend event get here on Wednesday.

Since we're already in town, JammerGirl and I usually take some time out on Wednesday to sit and watch as some of the other groups roll into town.
This time, we sat at an overlook on highway 550 (the 'Million Dollar Highway') on the south end of town (~here).


Looking down at the Best Western reveals that it has already transformed into FJ Summit Headquarters...







Here are some FJs showing up...





Going to and fro...








Here's a view of the town some call 'the Switzerland of America', including Main Street







I had a good view of the little grassy knoll overlooking town from the north.
I don't mean to repeat, but in case you're viewing this page out of order/context and missed it,
we hiked up there in 2010, and here's my page about that hike
(which includes views of town and the surrounding area from up there).




 

FJs, FJs everywhere  :-)









 

...and then, the Colorado Contingent (including others that hooked up along the way) rolled into town.
In this view, you can see at least 15 FJ Cruisers coming south on Main Street...


 

Here are a couple 'Colorado Convoy Arriving' videos...


This first one is from the 2008 FJ Summit;
for this one, I was standing in the middle of the street
(there's an area marked off by yellow lines big enough to park a truck)

This one is from 2011.
For this one, I was standing up on highway 550 at a spot overlooking Ouray on the south end of town...
 

 
After the FJ Summit evening festivities, the catered meal, and the 'trail leaders meeting',
some of us headed out for a night run up in Poughkeepsie Gulch.
See some of the sights and sounds from that adventure on the next page -->



Wednesday, July 20th, 2011 - Mineral Creek  |  CO-Convoy  |  Poughkeepsie Gulch Night Run

16 Sat  17 Sun  18 Mon  19 Tue  20 Wed  21 Thu  22 Fri  23 Sat  24 Sun