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 Nov 3

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

40 Ways to Hog the Hot Tub

By BOB WIRE- Like to be by yourself in the hot tub? if you give one of these little conversational nuggets a try, you might be surprised at how quickly you find yourself alone.... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Oct 27

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 10/27/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Early Preparation for Christmas is the key to Savings

By ERIN TURNER- There are only EIGHT Saturdays left before Christmas? Take a deep breath and relax because if you start your planning now, you’ll be the most relaxed, calm person come December!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 27

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

Phones In Restaurants: Less Welcome Than Cockroaches

By BOB WIRE-If you're sitting with someone in a restaurant, reading this blog on your phone, I hope the waitress spills a pot of scalding coffee all over your naughty bits. And your phone.... more

Student Organizes Haunted House to Benefit Missoula Food Bank

This October, a local student will transform his home and invite the community to enjoy a haunted hallway in hopes of raising awareness about local hunger, and food for Missoula Food Bank.... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Oct 20

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 10/20/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 20

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

My Bad: I’m the King of Inappropriate

By BOB WIRE- Who among us has not said something extremely inappropriate in a setting full of horrified witnesses? I should have a mantel full of trophies for that shit.... more

Liz Marchi: Operating Without a Plan

By LIZ MARCHI - Defining purpose. That’s how I always started any endeavor. Why are we doing it, what does it look like when it’s a success? ... more

Missoula Parks & Rec Hosts Old-Fashioned Fall Family Fest Oct 18

Fall is here… it’s time for hayrides, apple cider and old-fashioned harvest festivals at the 14th Annual Fall Family Fest Oct 18, at McCormick Park. ... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Oct 13

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 10/6/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 13

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional farmers market and fundraisers. ... more

Monte Dolack: Painting On Location

By MONTE DOLACK-As a first year student at Montana State, I remember a painting and drawing class I had in the spring of 1969 that included a field trip away from the stuffy classroom.... more

Aging Disgracefully With Rock’n Roll

By BOB WIRE- There’s a ton of great music out there, but we elder specimens either can’t hear it or can’t relate to it.... more

Celebrating 15 Years: Humanties Montana’s Festival of the Book

One of the biggest cultural happenings in the Northwest, the 15th annual Festival of the Book happens this weekend with nearly 60 literary events featuring over 80 authors, poets, and artists.... more

Milestone Season Comes to a Close

By DILLON TABISH - More than a century after it was established, Glacier National Park is more popular than ever.... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Oct 6

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 10/6/14. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Missoula Community Theatre Presents Jekyll & Hyde The Musical

The Missoula Community Theatre opens its 2014-15 season on Friday, October 31st with Jekyll & Hyde The Musical. See the Cast List.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Oct 6

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional farmers market and fundraisers. ... more

Avoid Injury By Using Care When Carving

By JENNIFER HELMER - October is National Physical Therapy Month. Ironically, increased hand injuries occur this month. These injuries coincide with Halloween, pumpkin carving and candle lighting for jack-o-lant... more

Turning Japanese, I Really Think So

By BOB WIRE- The decision to host an exchange student had been a last-minute one. “Should we buy some Japanese food? You know, sushi or, I don’t know, egg rolls? Rice-a-Roni?”... more

Reflecting on ‘The Bob’

By MYERS REECE - Fifty years ago, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Wilderness Act into law, and Bob Marshall was there from the beginning... more

UM Dancers On Location: A site-Specific Dance Concert Oct. 4, 5

By William MUNOZ - Are you really seeing students dancing at the Gallagher Building or Parking Garage? Yep, they're preparing for the UM Dance Program's annual Site-Specific Dance Concert happening Oct 4th and... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Sept 29

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 9/29/14--9. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Sept 29

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional farmers market and fundraisers. ... more

A Deed Most Fowl

By BOB WIRE-(VIDEO) When a semi loaded with 35,000 pounds of raw chicken sits in a truck stop parking lot for several days in the heat of Missoula's Indian summer, well, it ain't how they make perfume, brother.... more

Dressing Up Downtown: Missoula Art Museum’s Upcoming Art Park

By MATT ANGLEN- Congratulations. You may not know it now, but you picked an awesome place to go to school. To help you get acquainted with Missoula, here’s a short list of awesomeness. ... more

Testing the Waters–Ensuring the Water You Drink is Healthy

Hard water is the leading water problem in America and, and Missoula and Western Montana are no exception. Here are few things to know about hard water and what to do about it:... more

Missoula Community Theatre Holding Auditions for Winter Wonderettes

The Missoula Community Theatre is holding auditions for Winter Wonderettes on Sunday, October 5th at the MCT Center for the Performing Arts, from 12:30-5:00 p.m. ... more

UM Invites Public to 2014 UC Homecoming Art Fair

Plan to attend the University Center Homecoming Art Fair from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept.25-26, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27, in the UC Atrium.... more

Activities for Kids in Missoula: The Missoula Taekwondo Center

By KIM S. - In a building off South Avenue here in Missoula is a unique opportunity for you and your children to learn the art of Taekwondo. ... more

Liz Marchi On Entrepreneurship: Rewiring

By LIZ MARCHI -Entrepreneurs are different. They are almost never satisfied with the way things are. They are always looking for ways to make things better, faster, more efficient, and/or smarter. ... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Sept 22

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 9/22/14-- including UM Homecoming. Brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Sept 22

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional farmers market and fundraisers. ... more

Save Money at Missoula’s TJ Maxx and Ross

By ERIN TURNER-This past week I was reminded of two stores that aren't always on my "Deal Radar" but they're practically next door to one and other and this week they offered up some one-stop- savings!... more

MCT Presents The Woman in Black Oct 9-12

Out of the Box Productions presented by MCT, Inc. announces a return engagement of The Woman in Black, Oct. 9-12 at the First United Methodist Church.... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Sept 15

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 9/15-- brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Sept 15

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional farmers market and fundraisers. ... more

Don’t Let Your Gourd Down: The Pumpkin Spice Invasion

By BOB WIRE-It shows up every fall, just after Labor Day, as predictable as foot fungus on a high school football player and as unwanted as teen pregnancy. Pumpkin flavored ale. ... more

Palmer Trucking and Grizzly Athletics Rolling Together

By DAVE GUFFEY - Grizzly football will soon be coming to a highway near you thanks to a new partnership with Jim Palmer Trucking of Missoula.... more

The New Student’s Guide to Missoula’s Art Scene

By MATT ANGLEN- Congratulations. You may not know it now, but you picked an awesome place to go to school. To help you get acquainted with Missoula, here’s a short list of awesomeness. ... more

Crow’s Shadow Institute of the Arts Exhibits at MAM

CROW’S SHADOW INSTITUTE OF THE ARTS: SELECTED WORKS Oct. 17, 2014 – Mar. 21, 2015 / Lynda M. Frost Contemporary American Indian Art Gallery Art Guide Training: Oct. 17, 3 PM Artist Reception: Nov. 7, 5-8 ... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Sept 8

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 9/8-- brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Sept 8

Check out the various bands and live music all over town sprinkled with an occasional farmers market and fundraisers. ... more

Top Ten Debut Albums

By BOB WIRE-What makes a great debut album? I mean, besides a crappy second album. Luck plays a big part, as does talent, chemistry, strong songs and the golden touch of the right producer. ... more

Time and Labor Day

By LIZ MARCHI -Labor Day is one of my favorite weekends of the year. Growing up in a college town, it was all about back to school, semesters, students and college football.... more

Bare Bait Dance Presents Rachel Oliver’s “Settle”

By William MUNOZ - Bare Bait Dance opens its fourth season with "Settle", a multi-media, multi-generational dance-theatre work Choreographed by Missoula-born, Rachel Oliver... more

This Week’s Missoula Arts & Culture Scene | Sept 1

A recap of all things Arts & Culture--for the week of 9/1-- brought to you by the Missoula Cultural Council.... more