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

Frugal Living: Save Money with an Old-Fashioned Remedy

By ERIN TURNER - I love economical, old-fashioned remedies and natural ways of curing minor ailments, so I was thrilled when I discovered all the benefits of Epsom salt.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Clark Fork Coalition Walk & Talk, Out to Lunch, and more! ... more

UM Sports Trivia

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Twenty-five years ago this week a private plane crash near the west Shore of Flathead Lake took the lives of the Montana Band. So what's that have to do with Sports Trivia? ... more

Missoula Story of the Week: Bad to the Bovine

By TOM DIDDEL - A recap of the past week's most talked-about story in Missoula. This week, it's the mysterious case of bovine destruction in the Flathead Valley.... more

A Preview of IdeaMensch in Missoula: IM48 LA Recap

By COLIN STONER - I was in LA for IdeaMensch's IM48 kickoff on Monday, and got a sneak peek of the entrepreneurial event coming our way next Friday in Missoula.... more

The Run-Up to the Marathon: Ingredients for a Great Race

By TRISHA DROBECK - The Missoula Marathon has a formula for putting on a good race: Focus on participants' experience instead of gimmicks to rack up the numbers.... more

Kayaking and Creating Community at Brennan’s Wave

By JASON SHREDER - Thanks to lots of hard work, Caras Park and Brennan’s Wave have become a place where the community can gather and enjoy the sport of kayaking.... more

Dashing Explorer Skip Horner, a Montana Original

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - After 30 years as an adventure travel guide, Skip Horner, the first guide to take clients to all 7 continents, scoffs at the notion of retirement.... more

The Run-Up to the Marathon: Missoula Marathon Gear Bags

By WAYNE CHAMBERLAIN - It's the little things, like water stops, first aid, and good food that make a race special. So it is with the Missoula Marathon Gear Bag Program.... more

On the Grill: Montana Wagyu Beef with Morel Sauce

By PAUL SIDORIAK - If beef is what’s for dinner, American-style Kobe Wagyu beef from the Montana Wagyu Cattle Company makes dinner very, very special.... more

The Run-Up to the Marathon: Back of the Pack Cheerleaders

By PAM GARDINER - Long after the crowd has thinned, the Back of the Pack cheerleaders stay until the very last (best) runner has crossed the Missoula Marathon finish line.... more

“True Wolf” Packed the House for Its Premiere at the Wilma

"True Wolf" the Missoula-made documentary opened to a packed house in Missoula. Additional showings nightly through Thursday July 5th.... more

The Run-Up to the Marathon: Co-Course Director Mike Foote

By MIKE FOOTE - As a Missoulian and Co-Course Director, it is so important to me to support so many runners in realizing their goals at the Missoula Marathon on July 8.... more

IdeaMensch in Missoula: Bring Your Entrepreneurial Ideas to Life

By COLIN STONER - Entrepreneurs are dreamers, but there's a fine line between dream and reality. On July 13, IdeaMensch will be in Missoula to help bring ideas to life.... more

Frugal Living: 10 Summertime Money-Saving Tips

By ERIN TURNER - With warmer temperatures and longer days, summer offers us a lot of easy, smart opportunities to save money. Some are delicious, too!... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Osprey baseball, Out to Lunch, 1st Annual 4th of July Lights Parade, Downtown tonight, and more! ... more

Fireworks Illegal in Missoula City Limits and Parts of County

The City of Missoula reminds us that fireworks are illegal within the city limits, as well as in county parks and in forested lands throughout the state.... more

On the Grill: Chinook Salmon with Grilled Rice

By PAUL SIDORIAK - I recently experienced two grilling firsts: I grilled up a Chinook salmon that I caught myself, and I discovered that you can, in fact, grill rice!... more

Missoula Strikers U18 Soccer Squad Wins Regional Championship

By AUSTIN SMITH - The Missoula Strikers U18 squad made Montana history on Tuesday when they were crowned US Club Soccer Northwest Regional Champions.... more

Daddy’s Little Helper

By BOB WIRE - Man, I haven’t been right since I fell out of bed this morning. Fortunately, that's nothing a quick phone call to Dr. Nick can't solve.... more

Photo Gallery: Montana Whitewater Championship Finals

By AUSTIN SMITH - The final round of the Montana Whitewater Championships were held at Brennan’s Wave in Missoula’s Caras Park on Wednesday.... more

“True Wolf” Missoula-Made Documentary Opens at the Wilma 6/29, 7pm

"True Wolf" the new feature documentary directed by Missoula's own award-winning filmmaker, Rob Whitehair, will make its Montana premiere at the Wilma in Missoula this Friday, June 29 at 7pm.... more

Monk’s Feature Friday: Montana Skies, Cello and Guitar Fusion Duo

By LEISA GREENE-NELSON - Guitar/cello fusion duo Montana Skies is coming Monk’s Bar in Missoula on Friday, June 29 along with the Tyler Matthew Smith Band.... more

Montana Wildfires: What Are the Odds?

By MARK VOSBURGH - With the Scratch Gravel Hill fire burning near Helena, our wildfire season has begun in Western Montana. What are the odds of forest near you burning?... more

The Tyler Matthew Smith Band Comes to Monk’s Bar

By LEISA GREENE-NELSON - The Tyler Matthew Smith Band is coming Monk’s Bar in Missoula on Friday, June 29 along with the duo Montana Skies.... more

Photo Gallery: Montana Whitewater Championship Pre-Comp

By AUSTIN SMITH - The Montana Whitewater Championships will culminate in the final round of competition at Brennan’s Wave in Missoula’s Caras Park on Wednesday.... more

12th Annual Garden City River Rod Run June 29-30th

F.Y.I. - The 12th Annual Garden City River Rod Run, slated for this weekend, June 29 & 30, 2012, will feature nearly 200 classic and hot rod cars and close to 3,000 spectators in Downtown Missoula for this two-... more

On the Grill: Stuffed Pork Roulade with Grilled Mac and Cheese

By PAUL SIDORIAK - This week's dish was based on completely random ingredients I happened to have on hand, but I plan on making it again and again.... more

Planes, Trains, and Automobiles: The Life and Business of Upholsterer Lance Hartley

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - At Lance Hartley’s Missoula shop, there's no team, no business plan, no collaborators. He's built a business on his customer base and reputation.... more

The Great Pre-Race Missoula Marathon Course Clean-Up

By VO VON SEHLEN - The Missoula Marathon showcases Missoula to runners from all over the world. We need your help to clean up the course and put our best foot forward! ... more

2012 Whitewater Championships at Brennan’s Wave

F.Y.I. - Zoo Town Surfers and Strongwater will host the 2012 Montana Whitewater Championship June 26th-28; Presented by First Interstate Bank and Community Medical Center. ... more

How NOT to raise chickens

By PAUL WHEATON - This comic artist is exceptionally brilliant at capturing very common and complicated issues that can arise for people who have never raised chickens before. I think the desire to steward chi... more

A Time to Preserve Summer’s Harvest

By ERIN TURNER - Despite the slow start to the growing season, crops are finally popping up. These are the days filled with fresh food straight from the garden (or from the markets) and it's time to stock up.... more

I Shop at Walmart. Don’t Tell My Friends.

By BOB WIRE - Living in liberal Missoula, I’m aware that Wal-Mart represents all that’s bad about big box stores, and is evil incarnate. Of course, I shop there.... more

Missoula Story of the Week: Bad Courtroom Behavior

By TOM DIDDEL - A recap of the past week's most talked-about story in Missoula. This week, it's the Florence man who showed us how not to act in front of a Missoula judge.... more

One of Those Flyfishing Days

By MATT DEVLIN Well, I’ve thought for a while now that a flyfisher gets around five perfect days of fishing the Salmonfly hatch in his or her entire life. I’ve got three left now by those calculations... more

Missoula Marathon Volunteers Have More Fun!

By JERI DELYS - The Missoula Marathon is just weeks away, and the buzz is really starting to hit the streets of Missoula. It's not too late to sign up to be a volunteer!... more

It’s the Right Time to Buy…for Some!

We’ve heard the phrase, “It’s a good time to buy,” but what does that really mean? With interest rates under 4%, it’s important that consumers consider the COST of a home and not just the Price.... more

Hidden Gems of Missoula: The Sacred Art & Architecture of St. Francis Xavier Church

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - St. Francis Xavier Church is like no other church in Missoula - a heavenly realm to contrast the drab winter light in an often overcast valley.... more

Reflections on Coming in Last Place at the Pengelly Double Dip

By MISTY GAUBATZ - I signed up for the Pengelly Double Dip race with no idea what I was getting myself into. I may even have been mildly intoxicated. Mildly.... more

On the Grill: Gourmet Grilled Nachos

By PAUL SIDORIAK - Remember the first time you had nachos? There's an alternative to the usual, plastic-and-stale-chips ballpark food: Grilled nachos.... more

Monk’s Bar Brings in Marshall Catch Band

By LEISA GREENE-NELSON - ‘Road weary’ and wanting to get home to Montana, the indie rock band Marshall Catch plays at Monk's Bar this Saturday June 23rd.... more

The Dreaded “C” Word

By COLIN STONER - Even though I despise the word "cloud," some amazing things have happened in the tech world since it started appearing in daily conversations.... more

Make It Missoula Monday: What’s Happening This Week

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: 10K Wine Run at Ten Spoon Winery & Vineyard, Blue Alley After Party with Broken Valley Road Show & more!... more

Indoor Plumbing Can Be Overcome. Just Ask Lewis and Clark.

By BOB WIRE - The lack of running water in Forest Service cabins is a pain, but you have to make that a part of the adventure. Or sing songs to distract from the smell.... more

Missoula Story of the Week: Buy a Montana Town

By TOM DIDDEL - A recap of the past week's most talked-about story in Missoula. This week, it's the upcoming auction of Pray, Montana in the Paradise Valley.... more

New Housing Trends Show a Rebound

There are mixed messages in terms of real estate growth and an economic recovery, but home sale trends and low mortgage rates, point to a housing turnaround.... more

My Inexpensive, DIY Kitchen Remodel

By LISA HENSLEY - When we moved into our house, we planned to update the kitchen. In the end, we saved thousands of dollars refinishing the cabinets ourselves.... more

A Saturday Breakfast Walk/Run on Waterworks Hill

By MARILYN MARLER - Each Saturday at 8, a group of runners meet for the Breakfast Run. Last week, we headed to Waterworks Hill to see spring's latest wildflowers.... more

Sean Kochel and the Vanished Art of Wet Plate Photography

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - Montana photographer Sean Kochel resolutely believes that photography is an instrument of fine art and not merely a means of documentary.... more