check out the event and vendors. As the
event organizers readied everyone for
check-in, we strolled through the streets
exploding with rooftop tents, accessories,
suspensions, superchargers and FJ's...
FJ Cruisers everywhere. After several
thousand photographs, free stickers
and patches later, we picked up our
registration backpacks and we headed
back to camp. We gathered together,
catching up since our last trip and
reminisced about old times. We laughed
as Jube described the previous day's
adventure on the shelf roads and trails.
His disdain for what we had experienced
made for great conversations during the
weeklong event.
Throughout the week, the evenings were
filled with planning about where to go
and what to do next. The days were filled
with dynamic trail rides and scenery
that was picturesque at every turn. Every
evening we enjoyed our free meal at
the Summit. Ouray streets were lined
with FJ Cruisers of every era. Around
every corner it was
almost a walk through
time as we ran into
every model of Land
Cruisers. Vendors
there had tricked out
rigs that were old and
new alike. Others had
refurbished and fresh
builds from all over
the country.
Back out on the trails experiencing all
that off-road Colorado had to offer,
we pushed our 4-wheel-drives to their
limits. From the descents of Corkscrew
Gulch and heart-ripping switchbacks
of Black Bear Pass, the Toyotas crawled
along like ants marching toward a fallen
piece of fruit. Strolling through the
flowers and beholding the beauty of
the waterfall at Yankee Boy Basin was
breathtaking. Everything was in bloom
from the recent rains, and the waterfall
thundered through the valley with the
crash of the water. Crossing the creek
to enter Imogene Pass led us to one
obstacle and challenge after another. As
we climbed forever over rock facings,
shelf roads and valleys of flowers, we
came upon a Texas-plated Tacoma
making its way up the mountain with
a 4Runner in front of him. At a small
water crossing, we were stopped behind
another group having a mechanical
issues. We stopped for a minute to lend
tools to an FJ that had broken its rear
axle. When they convinced us they had
it under control, we headed on with our
newfound friends. As we descended into
Telluride, we caught a glimpse of just
how steep and treacherous Black Bear
Pass really was. Down in Telluride, we
refueled and made our way to Ophir
Pass as we headed back toward camp.
The rocky road jostled us around as we
caught our last view of Telluride in the
valley. My good friend Dogpack had
driven in from Arizona and joined us.
He, along with his wife and daughter,
were having the time of their lives out
on the trails. Arriving back at camp,
we had some newfound friends and
visitors. A father and son in their FJ
had setup camp close and Scot had met
Anthony from the Denver area who
was traveling through in his rooftop
tent adorned Taco. We had a full camp
now. Many more stories to tell and
laughs to be had over
a meal fit for a king.
Each morning during
breakfast, groups
of FJ's raced past
us on the highway
headed to the
entrance of Black
Bear Pass. Since
there were Summit
volunteers each day on the switchbacks,
there were no problems and many
adventurers were able to cross this
world renowned trail off their bucket
list. Engineer Pass was crowded on
our last day. The rock faces and ledges
provided a much more challenging
route than what we had experienced up
to this point. The switchbacks and tight
turns challenged our rigs, but they
pressed on happily knowing that this
was what they were created for.
We climbed to the summit just in
time to see storms blowing in from the
north. We continued on to the other
side, making our way through the snow
plow guides. I pictured in my mind
the deep snow and the plow using the
pole guides to make his way up the
pass. Down into the valley we followed
a beautiful river through another
mining town and into Lake City. After
stopping to refuel, we made our way
over to Cinnamon Pass for the return
back to base camp. Passing a couple
moose drinking out of the river and on
past the lake, we entered what would
be the last shelf road of our trip. As I
led the group, I'm not sure I could go
any slower.
I didn't want it to end. I reflected on
the week as once again we ascended
past the line of aspens. This week had
been perfect. The weather, the roads,
the trails and even the highways were
all exactly what I had envisioned.
The FJ Summit event itself did
not disappoint. My thoughts and
daydreams were suddenly interrupted
by a mountain goat and her young
one jumping out not 10 feet in front
of me before making their way toward
the creek we had been following for
a few miles. Over Cinnamon Pass,
we discovered new and exciting
picturesque views much like we had
seen all throughout the week. Views
like this never grow old as you discover
something refreshing and beautiful at
each turn, switchback, cliff and peak.
At the summit, we lined up all of the
beautiful Toyotas that had ventured out
together during the week. Such great
memories and unforgettable times
we had experienced together would
be talked about around campfires for
years to come. Memories and good
times that cannot be contained in one
photo or even thousands of words.
Our minds would hold the memories
of so much that we had accomplished
with the dream of coming here. We
want to remember the new friends we
met who had also made the decision
to attend, all because of their love
for a particular brand of vehicle. The
things that bring people together are
sometimes odd to the human intellect,
but effective and fascinating.
Making our way back out to the
Million Dollar Highway, we drove
through the thunderstorm that had
finally caught up to us and sped back
to the Summit for the last night of
drawings and giveaways. We arrived as
the Ouray Fire Department was just
finishing up from doing a rig wash
and cashed in our last ticket for the
The weather,
the roads,
the trails and even
the highways were
all exactly what
I had envisioned.
The FJ Summit
event itself did not
disappoint.
TOYOTA TRAILS
14