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 ‘All Featured’ Category

Parks and Rec Hosts Old-Fashioned Fall Family Fest on Oct 19

It’s fall—time for hayrides, apple cider and old-fashioned harvest celebrations at Missoula Parks & Rec's Fall Family Fest on Oct 19, at McCormick Park, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 14

Happening this week: UM and Hellgate High School Jazz Band Concert, Tom Catmull, Bouzouki in Irish Music- Rober Landes, Captain Wilson Conspiracy, Antiblus, UM vs Cal Poly, & More!... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Oct 14

This week's Missoula jobs: General Laborers for an aluminum trailer manufacturer, a Retail Manager for a sporting goods store, and an Office Manager for a local manufacturing facility. ... more

A Casualty in the Practical Joke War

By BOB WIRE- I love a good practical joke. Over the years, sharp-eyed Missoulians have seen me driving around town with a fake foot and lower leg hanging out the bottom of the driver’s door.... more

This Week’s Missoula News Highlights-Week of Oct 7

By TOM DIDDEL- This Week: Canadian man clocked at 154 miph on I-90; Road Kill becomes legal to eat in Montana, Ronan couple has five horses stolen and more!... more

Avett Brothers Headline at the Adams Center Oct 20

Fresh off recent appearances on the Tonight Show and Late Nite with Jimmy Falon, The Avett Brothers Headline in Missoula on Oct 20, 2013 at the Adams Center.... more

Lex Hilliard Returns to His Roots

By DILLON TABISH - Under the bright stadium lights last week, Lex Hilliard watched the Jets warm up for their football game--only these jets are pint-size.... more

Griz Have Crucial Big Sky Game at UC Davis Sat. Oct 12

By DAVE GUFFEY - The University of Montana Grizzlies continue league play, playing the UC Davis Aggies Saturday, Oct. 12 in UCD’s Aggie Stadium. Kickoff is at 5:07 p.m. ... more

Missoula Premier of Sherpas Cinema’s “Into the Mind” Oct 10th

By TRAVIS GOODKIND - Ski movie season is in full swing and Sherpas Cinema's "Into the Mind" is easily the most anticipated ski film of the season.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Oct 7

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Chris' top trivia mentions this week: The the beginning days of the Big Sky Conference, Grizzly Football, Sammy the Squirrel's appearance at the Presidents Cup & more!... more

October Savings

By ERIN TURNER -October has a long list of “celebrations”. That means “celebration” items will be on sale and NOW is when you will want to stock up & save! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 7

Happening this week: James Green, Lunacy and the Moon, Krewella Seven Lions Candyland, EL-30H!, Dave Manning, The World's Largest Garage Sale at UM, and much more!... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Oct 7

This week's Missoula jobs: a lumber-company foreman, pickup and delivery driver, network engineer and 3 preschool teachers for a non-profit organization.... more

Griz Outgun PSU for Homecoming Victory (PHOTO GALLERY)

By AUSTIN SMITH-The Montana Grizzlies continue to dominate the Big Sky Conference, taking their season to 4-1 after a 55-27 Homecoming victory over the Portland State on Saturday.... more

Man Vs. Wasp

By BOB WIRE- At last the story can be told. It’s a tale of horror, pain, insects and payback. And it’s all true.... more

Sigma Phi Epsilon 30-year Reunion Brings Old Friends To Missoula This Weekend

By LINDA MCCARTHY - Brothers in the Sigma Phi Epsilon house at UM were some of my closest friends in college and this weekend they're celebrating the 30th Anniversary of the re-opening of the chapter. ... more

Kingston Family Vineyards

WINEGUYMIKE - (VIDEO) I had a chance to sit down via Skype with Courtney Kingston, owner of Kingston Family Vineyards in the Casablanca Valley of Chile, to find out what is new with her family's wines. ... more

A Great Contrast

By DAN SAXTON - The last couple weeks have been eye-opening to me as a new resident in Montana and as a lover of the outdoors. We plunged right from 85-degree temperatures to the 50’s and have stayed there.... more

Turning the Corner

By ROB BREEDING - The signs of change are in the air. Yesterday I wore fleece to work. And the other night when my students had to work late in the lab, I fixed them a pot of soup. ... more

2013 University of Montana Homecoming Events and Schedule: Up with Montana!

By AUSTIN SMITH - “Up With Montana!”, a rousing line pulled from UM’s fight song meant to celebrate both the tradition and rising future of a great institution and its supporters, is the theme of UM's 201... more

Trading the Road for the Sea in Alaska

By DONNA HULL - On the fourth and final week of our Alaska Highway road trip adventure, we parked the truck in the bowels of the MV/Kennicott and let an Alaska Marine Highway ferry captain do the driving.... more

Domestic Partnership Registry Open Today

Domestic partners in Montana now have a place to register their relationships. In July, the Missoula City Council approved a resolution creating a Domestic Partnership Registry.... more

Around the Big Sky: Football Notes

Big Sky Conference Assistant Commissioner, Jon Kasper, gives us the lowdown on Big Sky Conference Football league play, schedules, stats and more! (For the Week of 9/30/13)... more

Getting Started

By MONTE DOLACK - Getting started on new works of art is a challenge. I am just preparing the studio for a series of new paintings. This is an exciting and scary time. What will my next painting look like? ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 29

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Making Chris' top trivia mentions this week: The Griz at home for homecoming, Portland State trivia, Major League baseball play-offs, and more!... more

Griz Ranked 10th & 12th in Sports Network & FCS Coaches Polls

By DAVE GUFFEY - After their recent loss (34-16) at Northern Arizona the University of Montana Grizzlies dropped just a few notches in the weekly Sports Network and FCS coaches polls.... more

Homemade Cup of Soup: It’s What’s for Lunch at Hunting Camp

By ERIN TURNER - We are always trying to invent healthy, packable and good-tasting meals to enjoy during a hunting weekend and my son came up with the idea of homemade Cup O' Soup. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Sept 30

This week's Missoula jobs: An Electric Motor Mechanic, Office/Accounting Assistant, Line Machine Operator, Log Hookers, and an Auto Technician/Shop Manager.... more

The Devil is in the Detales

By CHERY SABOL - Hopefully, the misspelling in the headline above relieves me of further gaffes and we can move on to talk about the power of proofreading. In fact, let's test your proofing prowess. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Sept 29

Happening this week: Caras Park Pray for Snow benefit for Missoula Avalanche, Live Music all over town, Homecoming Activities: Art Fair, Parade, Griz vs Portland State, and much more!... more

Eye Candy From the Far North

By DONNA HULL - Scenery, scenery, scenery—that’s been the buzzword for Week Three of our Alaska Highway road trip. The scenery on the Glenn Highway from Tok to Palmer topped it all.... more

The Roving Diner: Chico Hot Springs Restaurant and Resort

By BOB ZIMORINO - The 'Roving Diner' serves up a restaurant review on Chico Hot Springs Restaurant and Resort. ... more

This Week’s Missoula News Highlights-Week of Sept 23

By TOM DIDDEL- This Week: Missoula man arrested after day long stand-off,Two new laws go into effect aimed at illegal drugs, Missoula looks to fight cancer with area's largest cancer center, and more.... more

10 Bands That Didn’t Quit When They Should Have

By BOB WIRE- Here, in no particular order, are ten bands that kicked ass for a while and then failed to call it a day when they should have. And one that did.... more

The Missoula Community Theatre Announces Auditions for Willy Wonka

Magical rooms of candy-making machines, chocolate rivers, and the mysterious Oompa Loompas can only mean one thing….the Missoula Community Theatre is holding auditions for Willy Wonka.... more

Spectrum Downtown: Bigger Location, Better Hours, Same Liquid Nitrogen Cheetos

By ANNIE GRAHAM - I love the way my kids respond when I tell them we’re going to the all new SPECTRUM science museum in downtown Missoula. It’s like they’re going to Disneyland, only better!... more

Hunters Beware: Two Grizzlies Spotted on Sun River near Simms, Fort Shaw

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Two separate grizzly bear sightings since Sunday near the Sun River west of Great Falls have prompted state wildlife officials to alert homeowners and hunters in the area.... more

Griz Begin Big Sky Slate at NAU Saturday, Sept 28

By DAVE GUFFEY - The 7th-ranked University of Montana Grizzlies open their league season against the 24th-ranked Northern Arizona Lumberjacks Sat, Sept. 28, in NAU’s Walkup Skydome. ... more

Missoula Leaders Engaged at Montana Economic Summit

By LINDA MCCARTHY - The local daily newspaper claimed that Missoula was not well represented at the Montana Economic Summit, held in Butte. In my opinion, nothing could be further from the truth.... more

Local Physicians Prescribe a Walk in the Park to Their Patients

Missoula Parks and Recreation and Community Medical Center (CMC) have partnered with Montana State Parks to create a Prescription Trail on Fort Missoula’s walking paths.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 23

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Making Chris' top trivia mentions this week: The Griz versus NAU, Bobby Hauck, former Osprey, Paul Goldschmidt, Chris Davis of the Baltimore Orioles, and more!... more

Fall is Here in Montana

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Fall is a welcome assault on the senses. We see it, hear it and smell it. For those who hunt, or wait for cooler water to fish again, there's not other season like it.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Sept 23

Happening this week: The Kongos, Mike Bader Bearjam, and the Missoula Symphony Orchestra's season opener "Nordic Lights" and much more!... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Sept 24

Make It Missoula posts local jobs from the Missoula Job Service. This week's jobs: Home Entertainment Technicians, Manager of Customer Outreach, Admin Assistant and Executive Assistant for Development.... more

GRIZ on Streak After Stomping Aggies 47-14

By AUSTIN SMITH - (PHOTO GALLERY) The Montana Grizzlies are now 3-0 after running away with a 47-14 victory over the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies Saturday afternoon at Washington Grizzly Stadium.... more

Hitting Musical Home Runs in Missoula (VIDEOS)

By BOB WIRE- (VIDEOS) A couple of Missoula musical moments this week buoyed my spirits, kindled my hope, and shined a beam of light through the fog of malaise and banality that dominates popular music.... more

This Week’s Missoula News Highlights-Week of Sept 16

By TOM DIDDEL- This Week: Butte Copper King Heiress Trial over Will Begins Jury Selection, Montana Judge faces more Pressure, Wildlife Officials Look for Cause of the Death of 100+ Deer.... more

The Third Week in September

It's the autumnal equinox, which some equate with death. But for hunters, anglers, and hikers, the third week of September is a time to anticipate, to delight in, to anxiously await. ... more

The Great Wines of Tuscany

WINEGUYMIKE - Italy has been producing wine for 3,000 years and it is said that Italy is not a country, just one gigantic vineyard from the North to South. ... more

Griz Host the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies Sept 21

By DAVE GUFFEY - The Montana Grizzlies host the Oklahoma Panhandle State Aggies in a non-league contest in UM’s annual “Hall of Fame” game, Saturday, Sept. 21, with kick-off at 1:00 p.m.... more