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 ‘Family’ Category

Frugal Living: Spring Cleaning on a Budget

By ERIN TURNER - Spring cleaning is in full swing at our house! Unwilling to pay $250 for a professional cleaning, I found a frugal way to clean our microfiber furniture.... more

Maiden Missoula Review: Body Basics

By LEAH LEWIS - You might remember Body Basics when it was in the back of Rockin' Rudy's. Now, it's on the Hip Strip, and their soaps and goodies are as fabulous as ever!... more

Reuse It, Missoula: A DIY Fabric-Covered Lampshade

By LISA HENSLEY - My niece is graduating to a room of her own, and OF COURSE I had to just butt in with decorating ideas. I made her a repurposed, DIY lampshade.... more

Running, Walking, and Connecting at a Conversational Place

By PAM GARDINER - The Run Wild Missoula Back of the Pack is celebrating its one year anniversary. We run, walk, converse, and socialize. Everyone is welcome - join us!... more

Frugal Living: Mouthwatering, Homemade Deli Meat

By ERIN TURNER - Last week, I made homemade deli-style sliced meat from an elk roast. Not only was it a Montana-style money saver, it was delicious!... more

Growing Up Is Hard To Do (When You’re Already Over 40)

By BOB WIRE - The most surprising thing I've found about raising teenagers is that they’re not the biggest problem. I am.... more

Photo Gallery: Missoula St. Patrick’s Day Parade

By ABBY REDFERN & AUSTIN SMITH - Crowds lined Higgins Avenue for the 32nd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade amidst snow, rain, and green bouncy balls Saturday afternoon.... more

St. Patrick’s Day Parade & Events in Missoula

By AUSTIN SMITH - Missoula will come alive this weekend with a St. Patrick's Day parade and events to rival even the world-renowned Butte celebration.... more

Photo Gallery | Gratitude as Mount Jumbo’s South Zone Reopens

By PAUL QUENEAU - Today, Mount Jumbo's south zone reopens to people after its winter hibernation so that the elk and mule deer could range in peace. ... more

Missoula’s Family Friendly Fridays at the Top Hat

By RYAN NEWHOUSE - Missoula has a bar for kids! Well, at least an evening dedicated to them. Every Friday at the Top Hat is Family Friendly Friday from 6:00-8:00 p.m.... more

An Elegy for a Tree

By JEN SLAYDEN - Like many Missoulians, I take to the trails to alleviate my stress. Recently, I was sad to find that my favorite lone tree on Mount Jumbo was chopped down.... more

Maiden Missoula Review: The Art of Good Food

By LEAH LEWIS - The bread, soup, and baking mixes from Missoula-based company The Art of Good Food can be summed up in two words: Easy deliciousness! ... more

Shopping (and Saving) at Costco: A Missoula Staple

By ERIN TURNER - In Missoula, Costco is about as popular as Grizzly football. You can definitely save money there, but you have to approach it wisely.... more

High Fructose Corn Syrup Isn’t the Base of the Food Pyramid?

By BOB WIRE - I am the Candy Sheriff at the Wire compound. I try to be stingy with sweets, but I know the kids still get it on the outside. How do I know? Simple: Laundry.... more

So Many Reasons to Run for the Luck of It!

By JEN VON SEHLEN - On Saturday, March 10th, Run Wild Missoula presents the third annual Run for the Luck of It! 7-Mile, 5K, and Kids’ Dash.... more

Frugal Flu Season Remedies

By ERIN TURNER - Last week, the Missoula Health Department issued an Influenza Alert. Here are some tips for staying healthy and save a few bucks at the same time.... more

Pugs in Duds: Not Just Fashion Week at Missoula’s Mountain Pugs Club

By PAM VOTH - Sundays are fun days if you’re a pug living in Missoula. That’s when the Mountain Pugs Club converge in the Bark Park on Jacob’s Island to play and mingle.... more

A Successful Frugal Living Pantry Challenge

By ERIN TURNER - With the close of February drawing near, our month-long Frugal Living Pantry Challenge is winding down. The result? We saved a TON of money! ... more

Back of the Pack Runners’ Book Club

By PAM GARDINER - A spotlight on books written for the slower runners at the Back of the Pack. John “The Penguin” Bingham is a master of books for the BOP.... more

Bookworms and Whangdoodles

By ELKE GOVERTSEN - The only advice I should ever give other parents is this: When you don’t know what to do, default and do something you are really good at. For me, it's reading.... more

Frugal Living Pantry Essentials

By ERIN TURNER - During our Frugal Living Pantry Challenge this month, I’ve discovered some key items that are essential for a frugal pantry.... more

Ready, Set, Train! for the Missoula Marathon

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG - Is completing a marathon on your bucket list? Join Run Wild Missoula for its Missoula Marathon training class that begins on March 4. ... more

MissouLOVE: Ten Things I Love About Missoula

By JEN SLAYDEN - A musical, multimedia love letter to Missoula and Western Montana. ... more

You Are What You Love

By ERIN TURNER - In honor of Valentine's Day, here's a list of the things I love about Missoula. Add your favorites in the comments!... more

Soup & Fiddlesticks: A Simple Evening with Friends & Happy Dogs

By PAM VOTH - It was a simple congregation of good friends and happy dogs.... more

A Run to Honor Sherry Arnold

By EVA DUNN-FROEBIG - This Saturday, runners will honor Sherry Arnold.... more

The Right Guy

By ELKE GOVERTSEN - The perfect wedding: stress-free, beautiful, and all of that paled in comparison to the simple fact that I was marrying the right guy.... more

The Frugal Living Pantry Challenge

By ERIN TURNER - Our family is doing a Frugal Pantry Challenge for the month of February.... more

Children’s Musician Bill Harley Comes to Missoula

By JEN SLAYDEN - When Bonner School principal Ashley Parks found out that Bill Harley was coming to Missoula for a concert, she sprung into action to bring his talent to students at Bonner.... more

Winter Warmer: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

By LISA HENSLEY - I do all the meal planning, shopping, and cooking for our family. Sometimes, trying to come up with ANOTHER meal is more than I’m up for. That’s when I get a rotisserie chicken.... more

Just Another Missoula 5K Race (or Not)

By SCOTT & DARA ROUSE - The Catchem If You Can 5K takes place on Saturday, February 11 at 9:30 a.m. It features the most unique 5K format in town - and free ice cream!... more

A Year in Review

By ERIN TURNER - Today, I celebrate my one year anniversary of writing the Save It blog for Make It Missoula! What have you learned and what should I write about in 2012?... more

Hunker

By ELKE GOVERTSEN - Hunker. I really love that word, and not just because it has “hunk” in it (shout out to my hubby!). Thursday was a snow day, and boyohboy, did we hunker.... more

It’s Not the Snow in the Dog, It’s the Dog in the Snow

By DANIELLE LATTUGA - What makes dogs love the snow? Something is altered in them—this energy propels them forth, regardless of short legs and snowballs.... more

Snow Daze

By BOB WIRE - It’s been three days now, and our street has yet to see a plow. I’m getting desperate. All of us in Missoula are in the same boat, but at least it’s not an Italian cruise ship.... more

The Real Snowbirds of Missoula County

By JEN SLAYDEN - Just the other day as I was heading home, I took a detour the back way to Bonner, through East Missoula. When I showed up, I saw there was a party going on. ... more

Cheap Homemade & Store-bought Snacks on a Budget

By ERIN TURNER - It seems every year about this time, my sons have some major growth spurts. In order to keep them full, I’ve come up with a bunch of easy, budget-conscious snacks.... more

Why a Household Budget is Necessary

By ERIN TURNER - The first step to fulfilling a New Year's resolution to save money, reduce debt, or manage finances better, is to set up a household budget. Here's how to do it.... more

Missoula is the Place for Bluegrass Music

By MARK VOSURGH. Wanna Jam? Missoulians, You are SO in luck. Missoula has a great bluegrass scene with at least 15 area bands playing bluegrass, and a ton of great musicians.... more

In 2012 I Resolve to be Frugal

By ERIN TURNER. Happy New Year, Everyone! If you’re like me, I take the New Year seriously and try to make realistic resolutions which will improve my well-being, my house and my family. ... more

After Christmas Sales

By ERIN TURNER. I know, I know…the figgy pudding isn’t even finished yet and already I’m thinking about after Christmas sales! But hold on, you want to save money right? ... more

Extreme Couponing: Taking Stock of your Stockpile

By ERIN TURNER - I've given tips on how stock up and explained why it's crucial in the whole scheme of couponing. Come Christmas, stockpiling lets me be more generous to local charities, too.... more

Why Should I Take a Couponing Class?

By ERIN TURNER - Recently, I was asked to teach a couponing class through an Adult Education program at the Missoula Lifelong Learning Center. Learn more about the benefits of a coupon class.... more

Christmas Traditions – Find and Cut a Christmas Tree

By TRAVIS GOODKIND Every year, we get a tree to decorate for the holidays. It's one of our Christmas traditions. It’s a fun tradition, and also a good excuse to put our ornament collection on display. W... more

Christmas Music Events in Missoula

By JEN SLAYDEN - For me, the holidays are celebrated around musical performances. Each year, as I wander downtown Missoula, I realize how lucky we are to live in such a musical city.... more

Turn Holiday Window Decorations into Scrapbook Layouts

By LISA HENSLEY - I have to confess to a secret holiday decorating obsession: Window clings. But I hate to throw them away, so I started repurposing them on scrapbook pages.... more

Holiday Entertaining on a Budget

By ERIN TURNER - One of my favorite things about the holidays is entertaining, but it can leave your bank account feeling a little blue. Here are my top ten tips for entertaining on a budget.... more

Fun & Frugal Christmas Activities for Families

By ERIN TURNER - As we move into the full swing of holidays, many parents yearn for low-key, quality time with their families. Here are some ideas for fun, economical family Christmas activities.... more

The 2011 Missoula Parade of Lights

The Missoula Downtown Association's annual Parade of Lights is way more than just a parade! From photos with Santa to the big Christmas tree lighting, check out what's going on this year.... more

All Things Lady Griz: Reintroducing Shannon Cate

By KRISTA REDPATH PYRON - Shannon Cate is Montana-made and proud of it. And she's even more than just the most talented Lady Griz player to ever don the uniform.... more