Crested Butte, Mt. Crested Butte, Almont, Gunnison, Ohio Creek, Kebler Pass—All of these places make up our high-mountain community—and all are threatened by a proposal to put a molybdenum mine at the headwaters of our high-mountain streams. U.S. Energy and Thompson Creek Metals Company are attempting to do what Amax failed to do in the late 1970s—mine ore from Red Lady, Crested Butte’s iconic mountain. This companies want to store industrial wastes, called “tailings”, in the headwaters of Carbon Creek, and Ohio Creek, by building two large dams, destroying a large expanse of old growth forest, and thus putting local source waters for these streams at risk. Traffic, noise, impacts to schools, hospitals, property values, etc. are among the myriad concerns we have about the effects of a mine on our rural and Wilderness buffer areas. In a county where a clean environment and ranching are the source of our tourism-derived economy, such a proposal would endanger our very livelihood. Imagine the Gunnison River and Blue Mesa reservoir being compromised, possibly losing their attraction to anglers and recreationists. We can’t afford to let that happen!

We need your help to Save Red Lady!
High Country Citizens' Alliance faces perhaps the biggest challenge in our history. A unified community certainly makes us stronger, but financial needs are higher than they’ve ever been. Only with your help will we be able to secure all the staff, experts and related costs essential to this fight.

Please send your generous contribution NOW! Donations to the High Country Citizens' Alliance Red Lady Defense Fund are being accepted

And remember—Life is Fine Without a Mine!

You can earmark your contribution to the Save Red Lady campaign.

Mail a check to HCCA, PO Box 1066, Crested Butte, CO 81224

Call 349-7104 and make a contribution over the phone.

Use the Network for Good to use your credit or debit card.

We have several opportunities for you to get involved. Call us at 970-349-7104.

Join with High Country Citizens' Alliance in our Red Lady Prayer Flag Project, designed to help keep Red Lady (Mt. Emmons) free of a molybdenum mine. Molly Murfee, 2007's very creative “Red Lady”, came up with the idea, and is asking the community to submit its prayers. The prayers will be compiled and given to artists who will then create a prayer flag design. All the flags will be RED, symbolizing the community’s unanimity for a mine free Mt. Emmons.

Molly says, “The flags can be a symbol of our strength in coming together to fight this threat, a symbol of our cohesiveness and collaboration. They, in all of their red, will be a demonstration of our passion, our fire, in being uncompromisingly good stewards to the wild and high places that surround us.”

Prayer flags are available in Crested Butte at 418, Blue Moon Books, the Crested Butte Mountain Heritage Museum, Lucille Lucas Gallery, Mountain Earth, Pema Dawa, Pooh's Corner and Yoga for the People.

Or use our downloadable order form. Click here for a PDF order form

Proceeds from flag sales will directly benefit HCCA’s efforts to keep Red Lady molybdenum mine free.

Encourage your friends and family to learn as much as possible about the threats of a new mine. Direct them to our website. Bring them to the community forum.