TELLURIDE — Sitting along the bank of Bear Creek on a Saturday in July, it quickly becomes evident there are as many ways to camp as there are to fish. Probably more.
It may strike some as an odd parallel to achieve, although not so hard to come by as a camping fisherman. I camp like I fish, in a variety of ways. And while I have my preferences, both are often dictated by circumstances.
The best-case scenario for me typically includes a boat and a beach to go along with a tent and a fly rod, generally in a place accessible only by river. Otherwise I’d just as soon arrive by truck, my and in tow for a cozy, creekside sleeping spot followed by a quick exit when the time arrives.
That’s the way it went down in Telluride last weekend as we rolled up for the and dug in for a two-night rock-fest featuring the likes of Widespread Panic, Gov’t Mule and the North Mississippi Allstars, among others, in the wilderness that is Telluride Town Park. Despite the familiar set-up and ample fishing opportunity, suffice it to say that it served as a different sort of camping altogether.
Nestled into the crux of the Bear Creek and San Miguel River confluence, triangulated between three spectacular waterfalls, the is an amenity like no other I’m aware of in Colorado. Sure, it serves as a migration corridor for all breeds of wild things on major festival weekends like Bluegrass, Blues & Brews and Ride Fest, but hey, there’s no law against camping shirtless in the rain while wearing shiny silver disco pants and a hat shaped like a watermelon. As long as you’re willing to pay the price of admission.
And after watching the caravan of festivarians empty their trunks of required equipment for a weekend of sleeping in the woods and weeds, my respect for the car-camper’s survival skills quickly grew. The classic 10 essentials of wilderness survival may soon enough be edited to include oversized hula hoops, beer coozies, prayer flags and all the necessary ingredients for a tie-dyed T-shirt stand. Cotton may kill in the cold, but it sure makes cool, colorful clothes in camp.
The Outside Magazine image of hyper-light waterproof uber-products was as distant as the Sierra Club monogrammed walking stick club among this crowd. It’s actually somewhat refreshing to see the familiar Ozark Trail label of the Walmart shopper being put to good use in the outdoors.
That’s the generally oversized and affordable stuff you find in the aisle next to the treble hooks, bobbers and bait-fishing equipment at the store. And while the uptight angling “purist” might find a way to look down at it, at the end of the day it’s all the same sport. Much like sleeping in the dirt.
It’s plain to see that outside of festival weekends, Telluride Town Park offers a much quieter camping experience that’s likely to appeal to anyone for $12-$23 a night. A quick stroll out of the drop-dead beautiful site offers fly fishing opportunities in the San Miguel as it flows through town alongside a kids’ fishing pond tailor-made for plunking worms. Hike to Bridal Veil or Bear Creek falls straight out of camp, then walk into town for a sushi feast or hop the free gondola to Telluride Mountain Village with your mountain bike. Tennis courts, volleyball and public swimming pool facilities are all right there as well.
Scott Willoughby: swilloughby@denverpost.com or twitter.com/swilloughby
