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 Aug 26

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Out to Lunch, Downtown ToNight, Tons of Live Music all over town & more!... more

Prepping Kids for Grizzly Game Day

By KIM S. - In addition to dressing our kids to the nines for game day,safety is our number one priority. Here are some Grizzly game day safety tips for parents with little ones. ... more

For Outdoor Enthusiasts: The Rocky Mountain Map Gallery

By DAN SAXTON - Whether you're a hiker, climber, fisherman, hunter, or outdoor enthusiast in general, check out the incredible selection of maps at the Rocky Mountain Map Gallery.... more

Roots Fest This Weekend in Downtown Missoula August 23-25, 2013

By LINDA McCARTHY- The 8th annual River City Roots Festival is coming up this weekend August 23-25 in Downtown Missoula--showcasing live music, juried art, family fun, food, drink and a four-mile run.... more

Back to School Savings Tips

By ERIN TURNER - It’s that time of year which we can’t avoid…Back to School. But if you're smart and follow a few of these tips, you won't bust the budget.... more

Let’s Take a Road Rrip to Washington Wine Country

By DONNA HULL - Ever wonder what’s on the other side of the Bitterroot Mountains? Well, I can tell you—it’s the wine country of Walla Walla, Washington.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Aug 19

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Out to Lunch, Osprey Baseball, Tons of Live Music all over town & more!... more

Seahawks or Broncos?

By LINDA McCARTHY- Since Montana is essentially halfway between Seattle and Denver, Missoulians are oftentimes split between their love of the Mariners and the Rockies, the Seahawks and the Broncos.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Aug 12

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Out to Lunch, Osprey Baseball, Tons of Live Music all over town & more!... more

‘Throwing Down’ With Nick Dunbar of Mountain Standard Time

By EVAN CLARK - The 5-piece bluegrass/progressive rock band, Mountain Standard Time, of Nederland, CO, will be performing at the Top Hat Lounge on Aug14th in Missoula. ... more

Whitefish hosts the Huckleberry Days Arts Festival Aug 9-11

By MOLLY PRIDDY - Huckleberry Days (Aug. 9-11) is one of the biggest art festivals hosted in Whitefish over the summer, drawing in thousands of patrons and more than 100 vendor booths.... more

Getting Kids to a New Dentist? It’s not Like Pulling Teeth Anymore!

By KIM S. - Upon moving to Missoula, one of the first things we did is find a doctor and dentist for the kiddos. A fun dentist experience? Who knew?!... more

Missoula Symphony in the Park: Sunday Aug 11, 2013

By LINDA McCARTHY- The Missoula Symphony will host its annual Symphony in the Park this Sun., Aug. 11, 2013 This FREE event is a ‘do not miss’ event for Missoula! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Aug 5

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Out to Lunch, Osprey Baseball, Tons of Live Music all over town & more!... more

Tempo, Time and Results

By LIZ MARCHI - I think in threes. If you can get three points across that folks remember then you are doing well. So this August I'm thinking about Tempo, Time and Results.... more

Top Ten Rules for a Good Yard Sale

By BOB WIRE- Pay attention to my top 10 Rules for a Good Yard Sale and you’ll make more money, more friends, and have a much smaller pile of useless crap to take to Goodwill afterwards.... more

Deaths a Stark Reminder of Glacier Park’s Peril

By TRISTIN SCOTT - In a single month between June 26 and July 25, four people died of trauma in Glacier National Park.Their deaths offer a sobering reminder of the perils involved in off-trail exploration.... more

Enjoy the Silence of Missoula

By ANNIE GRAHAM - I live 20 minutes from downtown Missoula and I am blessed with silence. I can hear the crickets chirping in the fields and my son can talk to an owl while he weeds the garden.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of July 29

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Out to Lunch, Missoula Farmers' Market, Osprey Baseball, Downtown ToNight & more!... more

Hey Bob, Go Jump in a Lake

By BOB WIRE (VIDEO) I used to be reckless--“jump from the fifth floor balcony into the pool” kind of reckless". Now, eating jalapeños on my nachos without taking a Prevacid first is as reckless as I get.... more

Fairy Tale and Super Hero Festival is Saturday July 27

Come to the Fairy Tale and Super Hero Festival at Dragon Hollow Play area on Sat., July 27, from 10am to noon. Kids will enjoy fun, food and activities. The first 450 will receive a Tooth Fairy bag.... more

Montana Diva Foundation Hosts 2013 Celtic Festival of Missoula

By LINDA McCARTHY- The Montana Diva Foundation hosts the fourth annual Celtic Festival of Missoula July 26-28 in Caras Park in the heart of Downtown Missoula. ... more

Beer Icon Comes to Flathead Lake for Cruise

By RYAN NEWHOUSE - The Montana Brewer's Association holds fundraising cruise on Flathead Lake on Aug 10, featuring best-selling beer book author, Charlie Papazian. ... more

Greg Brown’s Self-Explanatory Life

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - Legendary folk singer and song writer,Greg Brown returns to Missoula on July 27. His connection to Montana stretches back some time and no doubt he'll be doing some fishing while he's here... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of July 22

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Out to Lunch, Missoula Farmers' Market, Osprey Baseball, Downtown ToNight & more!... more

Kidsfest 2013 Slated for July 30 at Caras Park

Hey Kids! Join Missoula Parks and Recreation for Kidsfest 2013, a free summer celebration for Missoula families at Caras Park on Tuesday, July 30 from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. ... more

Two Unique July Festivals Make Missoula Special

By LINDA McCARTHY- For a unique Missoula experience, don’t miss out on the International Choral Festival July 17-20 and the Missoula Celtic Festival July 26-28.... more

Spend the Day (or Night) at Painted Rocks Reservoir

By DONNA HULL - Do you like to go exploring? My husband and I were curious about Painted Rocks Reservoir and decided to find out why friends and neighbors RAVE about it. All I can say is WOW!... more

Mount Sentinel: The Landmark of Missoula, Montana

By DAN SAXTON - The best way for me to get a feel for a new place is to climb the most prominent local mountains, and for Missoula, Mount Sentinel perfectly fits that bill. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of July 17

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: The International Choral Festival, Out to Lunch, Missoula Farmers' Market, Open Mic Night and More!... more

Liz Marchi on Making Room in Life: Less is More

By LIZ MARCHI - Every day I am living and learning, less IS more. I am learning to hit delete to meetings, events and information that don’t really matter. After all, I have a garden to grow.... more

What NOT to Buy Your Wife For Your Anniversary

By BOB WIRE - I'm told that the responsibility for celebrating wedding anniversaries falls completely on the husband and that a vacuum cleaner may NOT be the best choice in gifts.... more

Oh Deer

By BRUCE AUCHLY - It was great to see seven mule deer walk by the front of the house yesterday. Why? Because they passed by the newly fenced vegetable garden in the back of the house.... more

Commissions, Collaborations, and the Workshop Life

By MONTE DOLACK - As a maker of paintings I am constantly thinking about images and concepts I want to create. Some of them have been put off for years and others have just come to light.... more

My Unique Situation in Missoula, Montana

By DAN SAXTON - So far, Missoula has been an awesome place to get to know. However, as someone with a hearing disability, I do face some unique challenges as I settle down here.... more

The Easy and Frugal Way to Clean Your Shower Floor

By ERIN TURNER - With three boys who like to go barefoot in the summer, I struggle keeping the shower floor clean. Here's a little secret that is both easy and frugal.... more

Knitters ‘Bomb’ the Flathead

By JUSTIN FRANZ - Kalispell’s Camus Creek Yarn is behind a growing trend in the Flathead: yarn bombing. The Main Street in Kalispell has been beautified with the intricacies of yarn.... more

My Guitar’s On Fire and That’s OK

By BOB WIRE - I love my guitar. And now that it's 'El Fuego' with a custom paint job, I love it even more! This functional piece of art allows me to play what I call 'Maximum Honky Tonk'.... more

Make it Missoula Monday – Week of July 8

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Missoula Osprey, Downtown ToNight, Out to Lunch, Monday Night Movie, Community Unite and more!... more

Celebrating America’s Independence in Missoula, MT U.S.A.

By LINDA McCARTHY - Independence Day. Why don’t we call it that anymore? Instead we call it the "Fourth of July"? As for me, I'm celebrating INDEPENDENCE DAY in Missoula, MT U.S.A.... more

Family Adventure: Exploring the Clearwater Canoe Trail

By ANNIE GRAHAM - If we can take our six children (all with varied personalities and needs) on a canoe trip, then so can you. Our latest adventure: The Clearwater Canoe Trail.... more

Summer Safety Around Water

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Summer swimming in Montana's lakes and rivers can be a great way to cool off if a few simple precautions are taken. How simple? Try these tips:... more

My First Impressions of Missoula, Montana

By Dan Saxton - I'd made the decision to Move to Missoula, MT. What would be my first impression of the Garden City? Was its beauty real or or simply ordinary--it's people hospitable and friendly?... more

Repurposing Hollow Core Doors Into Shelves

By LISA HENSLEY - Thanks to a recent remodeling projects, we have a stash of hollow core doors in our garage. They are ugly, but here's how I repurposed them into shelves for my office... more

Make it Missoula Monday – Week of June 24

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Missoula Osprey, Monday Night Movie, The Cave Singers and the Hasslers, Community United and more!... more

So you Have OCD? BFD

By BOB WIRE - Five million Americans suffer from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD. There are thousands of us who actually enjoy it.... more

So Why Missoula, Montana?

By Dan Saxton - I’ve recently arrived in Missoula after moving up from Southern California. Many may wonder: why did I leave the land of eternal sunshine; why Missoula, Montana?... more

Save Money by Knowing Your Usage Patterns

By ERIN TURNER - It seems one of the most frequent questions I get is: “How do you know how much to stock up on an item?” It's pretty simple: know how much you use of that item.... more

Make it Missoula Monday – Week of June 24

Trail 103.3 DJs share what's happening in Missoula this week: Missoula Osprey, Monday Night Movie, The Cave Singers and the Hasslers, Community United and more!... more

Partial Sellout: Bob’s Favorite Sports Quotes

By BOB WIRE - So many overpaid muscle heads you see on TV try to sound profound, and just come across as the steroid-addled boobs that they are. Bob Wire's favorite sports quotes:... more