Red Feather Lakes, CO. - The Mummy Range Institute documented a temporary radio transmitter directly on the summit of Middle Bald Mountain as of September 29, 2009.

See the photographs below. The 6 foot test tower has been secured to boulders on the summit area with nylon chord. In addition, a gasoline generator is visible, and several cables running to a tarp-covered structure presumably containing radio equipment.

OHV tracks were evident on the tundra in the summit area.

Larimer County has obtained a special use permit from the National Forest Service to perform testing on both Middle Bald Mountain and South Bald Mountain.

The test transmitter is located north and 120 feet above the tower site proposed by Larimer County. To attain the same line-of-site view toward the Poudre Canyon, a tower at the proposed site would need to be approximately 150 feet high. The county has proposed a 40 foot tower.

Locating a permanent tower on the rocky summit ridge would involve far greater impact than at the proposed site.

At over 11,000 feet, the "Baldies" are the highest points in the Laramie Mountains and their summits contain the only tundra ecosystems in that range. They are also exceptionally poor locations for radio facilities due to their wilderness qualities, remote location, and topographic obstacles which county-funded studies have shown to prevent adequate coverage of the Poudre Canyon. South Bald Mountain is located in a designated roadless area.

Based on Larimer County's estimates, a radio facility on Middle Bald Mountain is projected to cost between five and six million dollars, including over three million dollars to install twelve miles of buried power line to the site.

Larimer County has based its tower proposal to-date on deceptive and unverifiable information that conflicts with independent studies, and any further evaluation of these sites must include public oversight in order to be acceptable to the community.

Despite continuous requests by citizens, the county has not released information or involved local citizens in the testing process. Contrary to statements made by Larimer County personnel, the public was not notified of the contractor selection process.

Larimer County has been uncooperative throughout the history of this project, with citizens resorting to requests through the Colorado Open Records Act for relevant information.

While the county is not providing information, the test area is on public land and is accessible for direct observation. Forest roads leading to within a very short hike of the Middle Bald Mountain summit can be accessed off the Deadman Road (Larimer County Road 162) and are passable for most vehicles as of September 29. The summit area can also be reached by the North Lone Pine hiking trail, and Kilpecker multi-use trial, both also off the Deadman Road. Contact the Canyon Lakes Ranger District for road and trail information and conditions.

The Mummy Range Institute is a non-profit organization based in Red Feather Lakes with the mission "to actively promote values that are indispensable in providing a compassionate society and a sustainable future for endless generations."

Site Photographs

High resolution photos and details of the test site are available. Much of the equipment was covered with a tarp, and as no physical contact was made with the site, only those elements openly visible were photographed and documented.

Close up of the summit transmitter.

View north from the summit to the originally proposed site, below.

View from the proposed site to the summit ridge and transmitter.

Additional equipment and cables on Middle Bald

View from Middle Bald Mountain to South Bald Mountain. The populated areas of the Poudre Canyon are obscured by peaks and ridgelines in the background.

OHV tracks near the summit of Middle Bald Mountain