FAQ – FJ Summit

Can I bring my Family / Kids?

Of course, the FJSummit is one of the most family friendly events in the country. We encourage you to bring your family with you to enjoy one of the most beautiful parts of the country.

I have a stock FJ and ...?

I know what you are going to say, you’ll be fine! All trails besides Poughkeepsie gultch can easily be driven in a completely stock FJ. If you have 2-Wheel Drive, you might need some assistance in some loose gravel or rocks, but the trail leader is there to help ensure everyone gets up AND down the trail safely.

What do I NEED to bring?

• You should bring your camera (seriously, of all places this might even be a NEED above!), extra SD cards, a charger, etc.
• Sunblock (13,000 feet has a fraction of the atmosphere than sea level has).
• Water bottles (the water is REALLY fresh in Ouray, so a few canteens will be both better tasting and better for the environment) you will want to drink a LOT of water.
• CB Radio (Your experience will be many times better knowing that you can communicate with other people on the trails. CB offers trail leaders the opportunity to tell stories, teach history and relay safety considerations.)

I want to modify my truck, what should I get first?

There are entire forums dedicated to this topic, but for this event the only thing we would really encourage is a CB Radio. You can find inexpensive and easy to install ones online, check the forum linked above. Our general order of recommendations would be:

1. CB Radio
2. Better tires
3. Small lift (3" is more than enough) to fit better tires (see #1)
4. Skid plates
5. Everything else is just bonus. Plenty of people have done the event stock (pretty much everyone the first year!).

One final note, we love our sponsors, they make this event and they bring a TON of product with them. Come stock, talk to the sponsors, see what you like, go home with a trunk full of mods! Most vendors will let you drive their modified FJ's around, so keep that in mind!!!

Where can I stay?

See our lodging page or check the city of Ouray's website.

Can I bring my dog?

Yes, many people bring their dogs. Three rules:

1. Check with your hotel if they will take animals (again, we want to make a positive impression on the town of Ouray, please don't break the rules!).
2. Keep the dog on a leash around town and all event areas.
3. Keep your dog under control and in your eyesight at all times on the trails. The last thing we want is another driver hitting your dog, or your dog taking a wrong step into an area he/she cannot get out of.

What about altitude sickness?

We have had cases of altitude sickness at the event, but so far we've been lucky enough that no one needed treatment at a hospital. We'd like to keep it that way! There are quite a few threads on this topic, and they have a lot of good information. Here is the gist of it.

• Drink LOTS of water.
• Drink some more water.
• Sea level is not equal to altitude when it comes to alcohol. People want to go out at night and have fun, and we encourage that, but please take it easy until you know what your limits are. Besides sickness, we've had more than a couple of people get hurt just walking around the town. Remember, this town is in the mountains, there are hills and big rocks!
• If it is possible, and you are coming from sea level, stop on the way and spend the night somewhere at mid altitude. If you are coming from the east, Colorado, New Mexico are good choices, as well as Utah if you are coming from the west. It is amazing what a night at 5000 feet can do for you before you head to 12000+ feet!
• If you have any of the symptoms of altitude sickness while out on a trail, please let your trail leader know and someone will get you down to the town as fast as possible.
• If you don't have water, someone will. Don't hesitate to ask, everyone wants the group to be healthy.

What is the weather like?

This is Colorado high in the rockies in the summer, so you can have rain, snow, hot sun, anything. Bring shorts / t-shirts, but also cold weather gear. Always have jackets and gloves in the truck with you at all times. At 12000 feet on the trails, if you are in the shadows it will be cold. When noting the temperatures on weatherbug.com or weather.com please note that 50F at altitude with the sun shining and no humidity is much hotter than you'd expect -- and 30F may be much colder than you'd expect. Dressing in layers will help make the temperatures the most pleasant.

Can I register in person at the event?

Unfortunately no, we need you to register ahead of time so we can plan for meals, shirts, bags, insurance, etc.

I can't make it, can I get a refund on my registration fee?

We can refund your registration, minus a cancellation fee, if you request it before the refund deadline date. For details, please check the registration webpage.

Is there cell phone coverage in Ouray / on the trails?

In Ouray, yes, but don't expect 3G / 4G. On the trails, no, unless you are overlooking one of the towns (like Ouray, Telluride, Lake City, or Silverton).

Is there internet access in the town?

There is no city-wide Wifi, but most hotels have some coverage. If you are around the main staging areas and tent, please don't upload pictures to picture sharing sites on the host hotel's wifi during registration, they do not have the bandwidth to cover all attendees doing that and we've had some registration snafu's due to no access! Thanks so much.

Does the town have gas stations, grocery stores, etc?

The town is fully stocked. One point of note, is that things tend to close early in Ouray, so don't expect to be able to hit the grocery store if you are on a late trail run. See the city website for more info.