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ARLINGTON, Va. — The beauty of Crested Butte, Colorado is truly staggering no matter what time of year it is. During wintertime, the snow-capped mountain towers over the East River Valley, while in the summer wildflowers burst into bloom, blanketing its slopes.
But it's more than a beautiful location — Crested Butte has become a pilgrimage of sorts for Soldiers from the Fort Carson Soldier Recovery Unit looking to tackle their personal challenges by conquering the imposing mountain, which tops out at 12,170 feet above sea level.
It takes more than three hours to drive out to the mountain from Fort Carson, but it's worth it to the Soldiers, who have started making it a regular trip multiple times throughout the year.