The Story Behind the "M"

The "M" is 620 feet above the Missoula Valley floor. It is 125' feet long and 100' feet wide. University of Montana forestry students cut the switchbacks into the side of the hill in the early 1900's. The first "M" was assembled out of whitewashed rocks in 1909, and given a fresh coat of paint by freshmen every year, until 1968, when all those rocks were cemented together with concrete.

Photo by Nelson Kenter, kenterphotography.com

Archive for the ‘Community’ Category

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 1

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 1

Jobs this week: A part-time IT Field Technician, Program Director, Chief Accountant, A full-time Director for a Truck-Driving School, Chef De Cuisine, and more! ... more

It’s Supposed to Be No Fun. You’re Sick.

By BOB WIRE- The phone rings. "Dad," says a voice that sounds like Louis Armstrong with a sinus infection. "I don't feel good." It's Nurse Dad to the rescue!... more

Infecting Brains with Permaculture 52 Cards at a Time

By PAUL WHEATON - When I give gifts, rather than giving people stuff that they might like, I tend to give them things that I like them to have. Check out this gift idea:... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Nov 24

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 11/24/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

New Money Saving App–FAVADO!

By ERIN TURNER- I recently discovered FAVADO--an app that can save you both TIME and MONEY--and just in time for the holiday shopping season! ... more

Capitalism, Gift Economy, and Prices That Are Too Damn High

By PAUL WHEATON - My feeble understanding of capitalism is that I can work super hard for a year, save up all my money and then live without working for several years.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Nov 24

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- For the 18th time in the last 22 seasons the Montana Grizzlies are hosting a FCS play-off game. The Griz are 12-6 in their play-off openers at home.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 24

Jobs this week: A Facilities Manager, Chiropractic Doctor, Office Administrator, Kettle Bell Ringers, Auto Detailer, CNA or PCA , and more! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 24

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

You Spin Me Right ‘Round, Baby

By BOB WIRE- I enjoy moving at a high rate of speed without really getting anywhere so I was perfectly suited to participate in the second annual Ride-A-Thon, a fund raiser for A Carousel For Missoula.... more

This Year’s Griz-Cat Game Just Got More Interesting

By JIM O'DAY - I was recently approached to do some podcasts on topics and issues pertaining to Division I athletics, and particularly, the NCAA Football Championship Subdivision.... more

Liz Marchi: Handing Off

By LIZ MARCHI - My work life has been full of aspirations and over reach. I have always aspired to do things that I wasn’t credentialed to do and that people said were too hard to do. ... more

Missoula Community Theatre Announces Auditions for Clue: the Musical

The Missoula Community Theatre is holding auditions for Clue: The Musical THIS Sunday, November 23rd at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts, from 12:30-5:00 p.m. ... more

Energy-Saving Tips on Thanksgiving

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG- The Missoula Organization of Realtors offers some helpful tips on ways to cut down on gobbling up energy to help save money and be kind to the environment on Thanksgiving Day.... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Nov 17

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 11/10/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing Recipe

By ERIN TURNER- If you have kids, then you know that Ranch Dip has far surpassed ketchup in the world of condiments. Here's my recipe for Homemade Buttermilk Ranch Dressing.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 17

Jobs this week: A Volunteer Services Specialist, Cashiers, Maintenance Technician Worker, Bus Rider, Heavy Haul Truck Driver, Optician/Contact Lens Technician, and more! ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Nov 17

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- While the Grizzlies have posted double-digit wins over MSU in their last four visits to Bozeman the Cats haven’t won in Missoula by double-digits since 1984.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 17

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Nov 10

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 11/10/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Missoula City Crews Juggle Leaves and Snow

Snow and ice have arrived during the City's fall leaf collection program, and crews are busy plowing snow and deicing streets and still trying to stick to the leaf pickup schedule.... more

Reconditioning and Re-Purposing Old Shoes

By ERIN TURNER- Imagine my delight recently when I discovered this adorable pair of Converse tennis shoes in my son’s size at a Missoula Thrift Store. I paid $3 bucks, and check em out!... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 10

Jobs this week: Director of Finance, Habilitation Technician, Pediatric RNs and LPNs, Capenter/Framer, Excavator Operator, Head Engineer/Maintenance Manger and more!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 10

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Nov 10

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- Saturday will be the debut of Travis Decuire’s Montana Grizzly basketball team. Decuire would like to duplicate the coaching debut of his long-time mentor Blaine Taylor. ... more

You Can’t Take That On The Plane

By BOB WIRE- I traveled to the Bay Area last week to play some music at a fund raiser. The Delta agent looked at my guitar case like it contained fifty pounds of Ebola-infested squid.... more

Will it be Denim or Diamonds on November 14?

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG-Support MOR for Kids, Garden City Harvest and the Missoula Children’s Museum at the annual charity auction Nov. 14th.... more

Homesteading Basics: How to Make Your Own Lard

By ERIN TURNER- Thinking about adding lard to your baking regimen? Consider making your own. With the help of a crockpot, it's super easy and it's perfect for melt-in-your-mouth pie crusts, cookies, and and mor... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Nov 3

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 11/3/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Nov 3

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- It has been a decade since the Montana Grizzly soccer team won the regular title and earned the host spot in the Conference tournament. Montana hosted 6 of the first 8 conference tourna... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 3

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 3

Jobs this week: Experienced Trailer and RV Repair person, Operations Manger, Receptionist, Glazier, Graphic Artist and Marketing Assistant, Accounting Technician and more!... more

Missoula Police Employ Extra Patrols to Curb Halloween Drunk Driving

The Missoula Police Department is putting on extra patrols from Halloween evening on Friday, Oct. 31, through the weekend to reduce holiday drunk driving... more

SOMT Appreciative of Washington Family Support

By JIM O'DAY - Last week, Dennis and Phyllis Washington, and the Washington Companies/Montana Rail Link, kindly donated the usage of their “Silver Cloud” train to Special Olympics Montana.... more

40 Ways to Hog the Hot Tub

By BOB WIRE- Like to be by yourself in the hot tub? if you give one of these little conversational nuggets a try, you might be surprised at how quickly you find yourself alone.... more

City of Missoula Announces: Leaf Collection Starts Tues., Nov. 4

The City of Missoula will begin fall leaf pickup on Tuesday, Nov. 4, starting in the downtown Special District #1. See your neighborhood leaf collection schedule here.... more

Fall Days on the Radar

By ROB BREEDING - The fishing has grown increasingly good as the leaves succumb to gravity.... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Oct 27

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 10/27/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Early Preparation for Christmas is the key to Savings

By ERIN TURNER- There are only EIGHT Saturdays left before Christmas? Take a deep breath and relax because if you start your planning now, you’ll be the most relaxed, calm person come December!... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Oct 27

Jobs this week: A Qualified Automotive Tech, Nursery Workers, Field Assistants for Geophysical Surveying, Patient Service Tech, Office Assistant, Over-The-Road Driver, and more!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 27

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Oct 27

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The Grizzlies open play in November coming off a loss. The Griz lost their final October game in 2013 and then proceeded to handled 4 straight opponents in November. ... more

Phones In Restaurants: Less Welcome Than Cockroaches

By BOB WIRE-If you're sitting with someone in a restaurant, reading this blog on your phone, I hope the waitress spills a pot of scalding coffee all over your naughty bits. And your phone.... more

Missoula Housing Market Continues Steady Recovery

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG - Low inventory, higher interest rates and a harsh winter have contributed to fewer home sales and a higher median sold price in Missoula this year compared to last year.... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Oct 20

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 10/20/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Oct 20

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- In going to Cal-poly this weekend the Montana Grizzlies face a Mustangs team that has one of the most explosive rushing attacks in the country. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 20

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Oct 20

Jobs this week: A Medical Billing Specialist, Public Works Director, Residential House Cleaner, Night Auditor and Housekeepers, CDL Drivers/Laborers, A wine barrel Production Technician and more!... more

My Bad: I’m the King of Inappropriate

By BOB WIRE- Who among us has not said something extremely inappropriate in a setting full of horrified witnesses? I should have a mantel full of trophies for that shit.... more