Crested Butte was the destination, but it was more than that: It was a much-needed break from the silver-plated bubble of Aspen. Don’t get me wrong — skiing in Aspen is the holy grail, the top shelf, ...

Organized by Crested Butte Nordic, the popular event is typically a 40-mile point-to-point race from Crested Butte to Aspen. Warm temperatures, which reportedly reached 45 degrees on the high mountain ...