Red Lady is the local name here in the Gunnison Valley for Mt. Emmons - the 12,392' peak that sits just 3 miles west of the Town of Crested Butte. The distinct red hues of the bowl on the southeast flanks of Mt. Emmons led to the name Red Lady Bowl and the mountain's local nickname. Red Lady is the source of much of the water supply for the Town of Crested Butte. The town takes its water from Coal Creek which gains a large portion of of its flow from groundwater that seeps from Mt. Emmons. Red Lady is also a local favorite for year round recreation activities that range from wildlflower hikes in the summer to steep backcountry skiing in Red Lady Bowl during the winter. Mt. Emmons is also the location of a molybdenum deposit that has attracted the interest of mining companies for more than three decades. This deposit sits directly beneath Red Lady Bowl and was initially discovered in the historic Keystone Mine as they mined for other minerals. Since the discovery there have been multiple attempts to develop a large scale molybdenum mine on Red Lady. Individuals and groups concerned about the local environment and economy have fiercely opposed every mining attempt. High Country Citizens' Alliance has been at the forefront of these efforts since 1977 and continues to oppose any mine on Mt. Emmons.