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 16

Live Music in various venues all over town including John Floridis' Christmas Benefit Concert for the Poverello Center, Community U-Nite at the Kettlehouse to support Zootown Arts Community Center and and more!... more

You Can’t Put that Nerve-Shattering, Pants-Crapping Sound in a Radio Spot!

By BOB WIRE - Commercial radio has to run commercials to survive, right? Duh. It’s the first word in their name.But there are just some sounds that should NOT be on the radio.... more

Get Out of the Cold at the Indoor New Year’s Eve Two-Mile Prediction Run

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG - Get an early start on your New Year’s resolutions with Run Wild Missoula’s New Year’s Eve Two-Mile Prediction Run on Tues., Dec.31 at 6 p.m. at the PEAK's indoor track.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Dec 9

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The 10 wins the Montana Grizzlies ended up with in 2013 was a five win improvement over the 2012 season and is the second best single season improvement in modern Griz football history... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 9

Live Music in various venues all over town and Feed the Zoo Fundraiser at Sean Kelly's for the Missoula Food Bank--featuring live music from a variety of bands as well as a raffle and more!... more

5 Tools for Saving Money Online This Christmas

By ERIN TURNER - All week I’ve had people asking me for tips on saving money while Christmas shopping online so here are my top 5 tools and tips for saving money online this season.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 9

This week's Missoula Jobs: Preschool Teacher, Lead Clinician Program Supervisor, Pre-trial Supervision Officer, Spa Manager, Outside Salesperson, and an R & R technician.... more

The Girls Network

By LIZ MARCHI - This past weekend I enjoyed the company of three ladies that I adore. Understanding our past work and career history enables us to focus on today and what matters for the future. ... more

The Perfect Gift For Every Musician On Your List

By BOB WIRE - With Christmas creeping up like a Visa card-murdering sniper, here's my annual list of gift suggestions for the musicians on your list. This year, buy em' a hat.... more

Run through the Winter with RWM’s Boston/Spring Marathon Training Class

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG - Local runners can stay motivated to run all winter and train for the Boston Marathon with Run Wild MIssoula's Boston / Spring Marathon Training Class.... more

December in Downtown Missoula: The Best Place to Be for the Holidays

By LINDA McCARTHY - Downtown Missoula is a special place during the holiday season with exceptional shopping, dining and entertainment for everyone in the family. CHECK OUT THESE EVENTS!... more

Looking for the Purple Squirrel? Training Might be Easier

By CHERY SABOL - The weak job market has many companies feeling that they can demand a top-notch candidate who is willing to take a temporary job for relatively low pay-- a purple squirrel.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Dec 2

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - As regular a December tradition as Santa and his reindeer, Montana is hosting an FCS playoff games in Missoula. Since 1994 the Grizzlies have played 29 December play-off games.... more

Jingle All the Way to the Finish Line

Missoula’s 3rd annual Jingle Bell Run/Walk benefits the Arthritis Foundation and takes place on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at Caras Park.... more

Tips for Cleaning and Staying Organized This Holiday Season

By ERIN TURNER -The holiday season has a huge impact on our houses and schedules. Here are some tips for maintaining our schedules, entertaining and managing the unexpected drop-bys from family and friends.... more

2013 Parade of Lights and Lighting of the Tree Sat. Dec 7

By LINDA McCARTHY - The quintessential holiday event in Missoula, Montana is the 11th annual Parade of Lights and the Lighting of the Tree, which this year will be held on Saturday, Dec. 7. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 2

This week's Missoula Jobs: Finance Director, Corporate Advisor, Magento Developer and a Permit/License Coordinator.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 2

Live Music in various venues all over town, Jingle Bell Run/Walk 5 K, Tour of Trees Fundraiser, the 11th Annual Parade of Lights in Downtown Missoula, and much more!... more

Another Turkey Under the Belt

By BOB WIRE - I’d just pulled the bird, a mere 12-pounder, out of the oven after 3-1/2 hours of roasting. Was it fully cooked? 15 minutes per pound, twelve pound bird, three hours, right?... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Nov 25

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - For the 11th time in the last 21 seasons the Montana Grizzly football team has won at least 10 regular season games and have made a 5-win improvement over last year.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 25

This week's Missoula Jobs: Class A Drivers, Jouneyman Plumber, Contract Administration Manager, Vehicle Washer, and Human Resource Manager.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 25

Live Music in various venues all over town, Turkey Day 8K and 3K Fun Run starting at McCormick Park. HAPPY THANKSGIVING MISSOULA!... more

Bountiful Basket Food Co-Op Provides Fresh Produce at a Frugal Cost

By ERIN TURNER - When a student from my couponing class told me about Bountiful Baskets, I had to try them for myself...and I'm glad I did!... more

Facebook Food Panics Turn My Stomach

By BOB WIRE - When I Facebook, it won’t be because they sell my personal info to advertisers and spammers, it will be because I can’t take one more shocking revelation that the food I’m eating will kill ... more

Another Important Griz-Cat Football Game is Upon Us

By JIM O'DAY - Call it the “Brawl of the Wild,” or “The Great Divide,” but regardless, Saturday's 113th Annual Brawl of the Wild is easily the biggest sporting event in the Treasure State each year.... more

Teach It: The Spore Project

By ANNIE GRAHAM - I am so glad that my kids got to decorate the campus of the University of Montana with paper bag mushrooms for a weekend. I think they will remember it for a lifetime.... more

Shopping on ‘Small Business Saturday’ Builds Local Economy

By LINDA MCCARTHY - Downtown Missoula is rolling out the red carpet for 'Small Business Saturday' which encourages people to shop at small, locally-owned, bricks and mortar stores the Saturday after Thanksgivi... more

When Life Gives You Crepes (Video Blog!)

By BOB ZIMORINO - In this week's class we're doing crepes--Crepe Manicotti which we convert into Crepe Canneloni and Fresh Fruit Crepes. Here are the recipes and instructions.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 18

This week's Missoula Jobs: Development Officer, CNC Programmer, Scholastic Dean, and a Director of Wilderness Institute.... more

In Italy, It’s All About the Pasta

By DONNA HULL - Food is one of the defining elements of a culture. When visitors arrive in Missoula, I’m guessing you feed them a grass-fed beefsteak or trout perhaps? In Italy, it’s all about pasta!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 18

Happening this week: Live Music in various venues all over town Photos with Santa at the UC Center, Zac Brown at the Adams Center, and much more!... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Nov 18

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Making Chris' top mentions this week: Grizzly and Bobcat football, and men's and women's basketball--what else?!... more

Late Season Solitude

By TONY REINHARDT - This time of year you could have the whole river to yourself, and if you pick your days wisely you could get in 3-4 hours of quality fishing in the afternoon.... more

Why is Bob Wire So Angry Today?

By BOB WIRE - We get a lot of emails here at Bob Wire World Headquarters (not to mention the occasional foul-smelling parcel), and I thought it was high time I share some of them with you.... more

Griz Players Ask Fans to Donate Toys at Montana-Weber Football Game

Grizzly football players are giving back to the community with the ninth annual Griz for Kids Toy Drive, at the UM football game against Weber State this Sat. Nov. 16.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Nov 11

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Making Chris' top mentions this week: Grizzly and Bobcat football, and men's and women's basketball--what else?!... more

Healthy, Frugal Homemade Sauerkraut

By ERIN TURNER - Here is the recipe and step-by-step instructions on how to make your own healthy and frugal homemade sauerkraut.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 11

Happening this week: Live Music in various venues all over town and the Griz vs Weber State on Saturday at Washington Grizzly Stadium.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 11

This week's Missoula Jobs: Two junior graphic designers, a furniture salesperson, a mental health professional, and a property manager.... more

Serving the Customer is Key to Customer Service

By BOB WIRE - It’s common knowledge that if you want to get out ahead of your competition, something as seemingly obvious as a swiftly returned phone call is a big head start.... more

MDA Seeks Floats for 11th Annual Parade of Lights

The MDA is accepting applications for the 11th Annual Parade of Lights The Parade which will take place in Downtown Missoula on Saturday, December 7 at 6pm. ... more

Is Roller Skiing For The Rest of Us?

By MARK VOSBURGH -Elite Nordic racers and Olympic hopefuls train on roller skis during the off season, but are roller skis for us mere mortals and recreational skiers?... more

City’s Urban Forestry Division to Replace 79 Ailing Street Trees

F.Y.I. - Missoula’s urban forest is getting some much-needed attention as City arborists work with residents to replace 79 dead or dying boulevard trees throughout Missoula.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Nov 4

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Making my top mentions this week: Grizzly football, Joe Glenn, Rick Pitino and his son Richard Pitino, Lady Griz basketball and more!... more

Homemade Instant Oatmeal: It’s What’s For Breakfast

By ERIN TURNER - Here's an inexpensive, do-it-yourself method of making your own flavors of instant oatmeal. It's a fraction of the cost of buying the packets, and it's better for you!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Nov 4

Happening this week: Food Fight Trivia & Pint night, Tom Catmull's new CD release concert, Bluegrass, Hip Hop, Jam, and Classical Music in various venues all over town!... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Nov 4

This week's Missoula Jobs: Two Assistant managers, 5 shift leaders, 30 team members for the re-opening Taco Bell, Caregivers, Direct TV customer services reps and a Parts Counter Person.... more

Missoula’s 21st Annual Festival of the Dead Parade (PHOTO GALLERY)

By AUSTIN SMITH -Even with a little rain, the Festival of the Dead parade, part of a month-long celebration, was fun for young and old alike.... more

WineGuyMike: Old Vine Zinfandel

WINEGUYMIKE - (VIDEO) This week I’m sharing one of those comfort wines in this transitional season of fall. Zinfandel is full bodied, fruit forward, and a spicy red wine.... more

Celtic Rock n’ Roll Giants, Gaelic Storm Plays in Missoula Nov 3rd

If you've seen the movie Titanic you've seen the Celtic rock n' roll giants, Gaelic Storm perform--and they're playing Missoula at the Wilma Theater on Sunday Nov 3rd.... more