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 Lifestyles & Entertainment’ Category

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 16

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Tales and Trails: Love in the Time of Cold

By BRUCE AUCHLY - One day it’s warm and sunny, the next day cold and snowy. Welcome to that time on the calendar between winter and spring. ... more

“Work for Peace” Theme for 2015 Art Challenge

ATTENTION STUDENTS OF ALL AGES: Entries for the The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center's annual “Work for Peace” Art Challenge are due April 8, 2015.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | March 9

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 9

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Hiking Blodgett Canyon Trail

By DONNA HULL - How long has it been since you’ve been to Blodgett Canyon, the Bitterroot Valley’s version of Yosemite? Long-time Missoula boomers have probably hiked Blodgett Canyon Trail more times than t... more

Getting the Vid But Missing the Point

BY BOB WIRE-I am not a millennial, but I’m old enough to have taken typing class in junior high, ridden in the back of station wagons with no seat belts, and cruised around on my ten-speed with no helmet. ... more

National Ground Water Awareness Week March 8-14

National Groundwater Awareness Week is the week of March 8-14 and Kinetico of Montana just wants you to remember a few things about your groundwater and its importance in our lives.... more

Another Successful Pantry Challenge

By ERIN TURNER-It’s March. What's that mean? If you ask most, they'll say "March Madness" or St. Paddy's Day. If you ask our boys, they'll exclaim it's the "end of the pantry challenge". YEEHAW!... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | March 2

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 2

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

Missoula: Ten Books I Could Write About Us

BY BOB WIRE-Of all the books that could be entitled Missoula, an investigation into rape is not at the top of my list. Here's ten titles I could write about us.... more

The Best Way to Clean a Kitchen Sink

By ERIN TURNER-My kitchen sink is a work horse. It takes a beating almost every day. So I rely on a super dependable, result-guaranteed method of cleaning my porcelain sink.... more

5th Annual Winter Brewfest Comes to Caras Park, Fri. Feb 27

The Missoula Downtown Association and KettleHouse Brewing Co. will host the fifth annual Winter BrewFest on Friday, Feb 27, 2015 from 5-10 pm in Caras Park.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Feb 23

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Feb 23

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

My Kingdom for a Glue Stick

BY BOB WIRE-Living among a bunch of creative types keeps life interesting. And expensive. This occurred to me today as I was searching high and low for a glue stick. ... more

Snow or No Snow: Parks and Rec Hosts Winter Carnival at Marshall Mountain

Snow or no snow, Parks and Rec is hosting the first annual Marshall Mountain Winter Carnival on Sun., Feb. 22 at Marshall Mountain, from 10-4 pm.... more

MakeItMissoula.com Partners with VolunteerMissoula.org to Highlight Local Nonprofits

By JENNIFER PEPPROCK-With over 600 nonprofit charitable organizations, Missoula is an exceptionally giving community. But many Missoulians like me don’t know where to begin in their volunteering endeavors.... more

Kate Voegele Plays at Stage 112 on Feb 20th

Kate Voegele first picked up a guitar at age 15. Influenced by the rock and roll history of the city and her father’s songwriting, she began to pen her own songs from the minute she learned to play her first ... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Feb16

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Shake Off the Winter Blues and Try Some Brews

Come on out to Caras Park for the fifth annual Winter BrewFest on Friday, Feb. 27, 2015 from 5-10 pm featuring live entertainment, beer, wine, food and more!... more

Small Town Seeley Lake Working to Create a Big Nordic Ski Vision

By MARK VOSBURG - Inspired by the birth of the Maine Winter Sports Center, a group of Seeley Lake (population 1,659) residents formed the Seeley Lake Regional Outdoor Center for Kinetic Sports (ROCKS).... more

Rocket Mass Heaters: The Absurdly Efficient, Cheap, and Comfortable Way to Heat Your Home

By PAUL WHEATON - So what’s the big deal? Well, Rocket Mass Heaters are one of the most sustainable and affordable heat sources in the world! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Feb 23

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

Inside the Glamorous World of Journalism

By BOB WIRE- Another Friday morning, another tedious story meeting at the newspaper. I had bigger fish to fry. That’s why I smelled like fish...... more

DIY Pantry: Homemade Condiments are Healthy and Frugal

By ERIN TURNER- I recently taught a class called “Homemade Instead” where we talked about making things at home instead of purchasing them commercially--including condiments.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Feb 9

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Feb 9

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

Better Than Netflix: The Roxy is Your Community Cinema

By Matt Anglen- Missoula is firmly rooted in what I call Movie Season. It’s the time of year when all you want to do is warm yourself by the glow of celluloid and think about spring.... more

Monte Dolack: Art and Travel

By MONTE DOLACK-Sometimes you don’t have to travel far for a change of scene. Traveling, even close to home sheds new light, not only on the eye but into the mind and heart as well. ... more

Sandwich Guy

By BOB WIRE- During Grizzly games I've been helping out at Paisano's Sandwich Counter. Oh, don't worry—I'm not actually handling the food. I handle the money and the schmoozing.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Feb 2

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Soup: The Frugal Friendly Meal

By ERIN TURNER- Soup is one of those dishes which I don’t think receives enough credit. It's easy, frugal, freezes well and is nutritious. And, it's perfect for the pantry challenge.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Feb 2

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

The Seinfeld of Blog Posts

By BOB WIRE- You think it's a cakewalk, coming up with a new topic to write a thousand words about every week? And not be about farts? Not that Missoula isn't rife with material. ... more

Liz Marchi: On Birthdays and Aging

By LIZ MARCHI - Sunday was my 61st birthday. The great thing about a January birthday is that you spend the entire month thinking about the New Year, goals, planning and “getting ready.” ... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Jan 26

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Benefits of a Pantry Challenge

By ERIN TURNER- If the idea of cleaning up and eating up your pantry appeals to you then you are ready for a Pantry Challenge! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 26

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

The Bar Gig From Hell Part 2: The Revenge

By BOB WIRE- The bartenders poured stiff drinks. That’s what got us through another night of pop country requests, complaints about the disco balls, and a general absence of love in the room. ... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Jan 19

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Frugal Diamond Ring Cleaner

By ERIN TURNER- Here is a quick, easy and frugal way to clean diamond rings at home!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 19

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

The Bar Gig From Hell, Part I

By BOB WIRE- My ego was beaten like a dirty throw rug this weekend, when we played a double-header in a new bar in unfamiliar territory. I overheard someone say, “who the hell is Bob Wire?” ... more

MCT Announces Audition for The Rainmaker

The Missoula Community Theatre is holding an open audition for The Rainmaker on Sunday, January 25th at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts from 12:30-4:00 p.m.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Jan 12

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Restoring Household Order

By ERIN TURNER- This last week I spent packing up the Christmas decorations, cleaning the house after all the holiday parties and of course, hitting all the after Christmas clearance sales.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 12

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

The Guitar that Invented Rock n’ Roll

By BOB WIRE- The Fender Stratocaster is to rock and roll what the basketball is to basketball. Its importance to rock music can’t be overstated.... more