A recent flag-raising on a mountainside above Green Mountain Falls revealed the existence of a previously unknown group in the Colorado Springs region: the Planetary Defense Command.

Is Green Mountain Falls being invaded?

Here’s a look at its Web site:

We’re not talking anything close to NORAD — the North American Aerospace Defense Command that, for decades, occupied a small city within the hollowed granite walls of Cheyenne Mountain.

We’re talking a gr0up of old greenies who have been fighting for the environment since 1979 or earlier.

We’re talking Mike Grabon, of Divide, who calls himself the Planetary Defense commander, and his buddies like Rick Truesdell and Kim Wart of Green Mountain Falls.

Grabon, Truesdell and Wart are pictured, below, in a photo by The Gazette’s Mariah Tauger taken Monday as they prepared for a second expedition to raise the group’s flag on Table Rock above the mountain hamlet up Ute Pass.

Below is another look at the Planetary Defense group by Mariah Tauger.

Here’s a look at the town of Green Mountain Falls and the surrounding area from GoogleEarth. A reservoir is visible to the west along the Pikes Peak Highway. It is on a mesa high above the town and Ute Pass.

Grabon and Company created a bit of stir in Green Mountain Falls a couple weeks ago when they hiked up to the cliffs of Table Rock and planted their flag.

Folks were wondering what, exactly, the Planetary Defense was and why it had conquered Table Rock. The cliffs are a regular target of younger residents who, accoridng to local tradition, climb Table Rock and plant a flag in a coming-of-age ritual.

 Grabon insists there is nothing sinister about the group. They come in peace. They are not invading. They are out to conquer anything.

 All they want is to save the planet by encouraging the use of renewable energy such as solar and wind. Right on, Planetary Defense!

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