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 ‘Recreation’ Category

Big Game Hunters Need to Be Bear Aware on Front

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Grizzly bear sign on the Rocky Mountain Front has led to a Fish, Wildlife and Parks wildlife biologist to remind hunters to be bear aware.... more

Memorial Rose Garden Volunteer Workday Slated for October 26

By BECKY GOODRICH - Parks and Recreation and the Missoula Rose Society invite residents to volunteer in the Garden, located at 800 Brooks, on Saturday, October 26, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.... more

Local Snowmobile Store to Host Annual Avalanche Training Event

Gull Boats & RV will host a free annual avalanche traiing event at Big Sky Brewing on October 30 at 6pm featuring instructor Mike Duffy from the American Avalanche Association.... more

Ways to Stay Safe on Your Next Family Camping Trip

As exciting and eventful as a family camping trip can be, your safety has to take priority. Here are some tips for staying safe on your next outing:... more

Bird Hunters Need to be Bear Aware

By BRUCE AUCHLY - With the Oct. 12 opening of pheasant season, bird hunters around western Montana should be prepared for an encounter with a grizzly bear.... more

Montana’s Special Drawing Deadlines Reminder

Montana FWP's deadlines to apply for special license drawings is May 1 for bison, moose, bighorn sheep and mountain goat; and June 1 for the elk B, deer B and antelope license drawings.... more

Mount JumboNorth Zone to Remain Closed until May 15

By BECKY GOODRICH - Parks and Recreation, in consultation with Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, has extended the winter wildlife closure for Mount Jumbo’s North Zone.... more

High Water is Dangerous. Don’t Go!

Snowmelt creates high water in our streams and rivers. You might want to get out there in your boat, but high water can be deadly when conditions are too extreme for safe boating.... more

Hunting Permit Drawing Results Now Available

By JOLEEN TADEJ - The wait is over. Hunters can now check the results of the 2019 nonresident combination and elk and deer permit drawing to see if they were successful.... more

2019 International Fly Fishing Film Festival Features Trout-To-Taimen Around the World

World-wide fly-fishing adventures will be premiered at the 2019 International Fly Fishing Film Festival, April 27 at the Wilma Theater, Missoula, MT.... more

27th Annual Run for the Trees Slated For April 20th

By BECKY GOODRICH - Celebrate National Arbor Month with a fun walk or run along the Riverfront trail system.... more

Missoula in Motion Launches January Clear the Air Challenge

For the month of January, Missoula In Motion will challenge citizens to reduce the amount of C02 they emit into the air by trying to limit their solo driving trips.... more

City Sponsors Christmas Ever-Green Tree Recycling Program

By BECKY GOODRICH - The City of Missoula is hosting its annual Christmas Ever-Green tree recycling program, December 26 to January 15. ... more

An Essay on a Bird Feeder

By BRUCE AUCHLY - All animals that spend at least part of their lives in Montana have three strategies for coping with winter: leave, go to sleep or tough it out.... more

Tourism and Innovation. How Montana is Trying to Get Ahead

One of the most northerly of the U.S states, Montana is widely appreciated for its numerous outdoor opportunities, tourist attractions and local culture. ... more

Memorial Rose Garden Volunteer Project Slated for October 27

By BECKY GOODRICH - Parks and Recreation is hosting a volunteer workday on Saturday, October 27, from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.... more

Top 5 Vacation Destinations This Winter

Traveling during the winter is something that many individuals and families make the decision to do. ... more

Archery Hunter Breaks Arm in Grizzly Bear Attack Near Gardiner

By JOLEEN TADEJ - An archery hunter was attacked by a grizzly bear Saturday near Gardiner, sustaining wounds to his arm and face.... more

Fort Missoula Regional Park Hosts Old-Fashioned Fall Family Fest on Oct 20

By BECKY GOODRICH - Fort Missoula Regional Park invites kids and their families to the 18th Annual Fall Family Fest and Kaboom! Play Day on Saturday, October 20 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.... more

Tips for Tennis Parents

Being a tennis parent requires finding the right balance between being a parent and a coach, a cheerleader and a neutral entity in the audience.... more

Stay Safe on the Water This Labor Day Weekend

By JOLENE TADEJ - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks wants to remind boaters to be safe on the water this weekend. ... more

7th Annual Doggie Dash Slated for September 8 at Fort Missoula

By BECKY GOODRICH - Missoula Parks & Recreation invites you and your four-legged friends to the 7th annual Doggie Dash Pet Expo and Fun Run on Saturday, Sept. 8, at Fort Missoula Regional Park West.... more

Stage II Fire Restrictions to Begin Friday on City Open Space

By BECKY GOODRICH - Stage II fire restrictions will go into effect at 12:01 a.m. Friday 8/10, on City of Missoula open space and conservation lands, including Mount Sentinel, the North Hills, Mount Jumbo.... more

Over 140 Players Break in New Fort Missoula Regional Park Pickleball Courts

By BECKY GOODRICH - Over 140 pickleball players, ranging in age from 17 to 84, will compete in Missoula this weekend at the fifth annual Montana Open pickleball tournament.... more

Kidsfest 2018 Slated for July 24 at Caras Park

Join us for Kidsfest 2018, a free summer celebration for Missoula families at Caras Park on Tuesday, July 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.... more

Fort Missoula Regional Park Phase 2 Grand Opening Slated for July 26

By BECKY GOODRICH - The public is invited to the Fort Missoula Regional Park Phase II Grand Opening celebration on Thursday, July 26, 2018 from 6 to 10 p.m. ... more

Sheep Return to City Open Space, Pet Owners Required to Leash Dogs Near Herd

By BECKY GOODRICH - Visitors to City open space are reminded: leash your dog when hiking near grazing sheep this summer.... more

Mount Jumbo South Zone Opens Friday, March 30

By BECKY GOODRICH - Mount Jumbo’s South Zone will reopen to public use on Friday, March 30, bringing the area’s annual winter wildlife closure to a close.... more

Grizzly Bears Reported Out on Rocky Mountain Front

Just in time for the beginning of spring, grizzly bears have been reported out on the Rocky Mountain Front.... more

Be Safe, Be Seen: Bike Light Campaign Underway

Missoula is renewing its efforts to keep people safe when riding bikes at night.... more

Bird Hunter Shoots, Kills Charging Grizzly Near Front

By BRUCE AUCHLY - A pheasant hunter shot and killed a grizzly bear Nov. 4 near Pendroy along the Rocky Mountain Front that charged him.... more

Fort Missoula Regional Park Hosts Old-Fashioned Fall Family Fest on Oct 21

By BECKY GOODRICH - Fall is here… it’s time for hayrides, apple cider and old-fashioned family fun! ... more

Bird Hunters Need to be Bear Aware

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Upland bird hunting began Sept. 1 and hunters along the Rocky Mountain Front, especially in riparian areas, need to be aware they are in bear country.... more

Light up the Night at Fort Missoula Glow Fest

By BECKY GOODRICH - GLOW FEST, an evening celebration of all things luminous on Friday, September 8, from 7 to 10 p.m. at Fort Missoula Regional Park. ... more

Over 100 Players to Compete in Regional Pickeball Tournament

By BECKY GOODRICH - Over 100 pickleball players from multiple states will be in Missoula this weekend for the fourth annual Montana Open pickleball tournament at Playfair Park.  ... more

10 Heavenly Montana Hikes West of the Continental Divide

By BRIAN D'AMBROSIO - Nothing inspires like a heart-pounding hike into Montana's high country. Put these ten picks for memorable hikes on your Montana bucket list!... more

Mountain Biking in Grizzly Country, Be Prepared

By GREG LEMON - Imagine you’re riding hard down a mountain trail. As the trail you’re on weaves around a thicket of alder and huckleberries there’s a sow grizzly and two small cubs.... more

Mount Jumbo South Zone closure Extended to March 31

By BECKY GOODRICH - The Mount Jumbo winter wildlife closure has been extended to protect wintering elk. The area traditionally opens March 15.... more

Cats Grind Out Win Over Griz on the Ground

By ERIC TABER- The Montana Grizzlies' (6-5, 3-5 BSC) season came to a close on Saturday in Missoula, as the Montana State Bobcats (4-7, 2-6) pulled off an improbable 24-17 win.... more

Griz Start Slow, Fall to Northern Colorado 28-25

By ERIC TABER- The road woes that have plagued the Montana football team all season continued on Saturday. The Griz fell to Northern Colorado in Greeley 28-25.... more

Record-Setting Griz Roll Past Idaho State

By ERIC TABER- Backup quarterback, Chad Chalich re-wrote Montana's record books on Saturday, passing for seven touchdowns and rushing for another in a 62-44 win over Idaho State.... more

Lumberjacks Run Past Grizzlies 45-34

By ERIC TABER- Northern Arizona scored on its first play of the game, a 74-yard pass play, and the Lumberjacks never looked back in posting a 45-34 victory over Montana Saturday in Flagstaff.... more

Griz Train Rolls 68-7 Over Scramento State

By ERIC TABER-In 100-plus years of Griz football, Montana has never posted back-to-back games of 60 points or more. It did just that against the Hornets, winning 68-7 in front of 25,351 fans on Saturday.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Oct 3

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Once again the Grizzly defense is among the top in FCS. Among Big Sky teams the Griz has given the fewest first downs and are the top defense against third and fourth conversions.... more

Griz Beat Thunderbirds 43-20 on Homecoming

By ERIC TABER-The No. 11. Montana Grizzlies offense racked up 600 yards of offense and the defense threw a clutch third quarter shutout to win a 43-20 in a homecoming victory over Southern Utah on Saturday.... more

Fall Into Fun With Parks and Recreation

Join Missoula Parks and Recreation for these exciting recreation and aquatics programs. Call 721-PARK to register or stop by Currents Aquatics Center in McCormick Park. ... more

Parks and Recreation Hosts Old-Fashioned Family Fest on Oct. 22

It’s fall—time for hayrides, apple cider and old-fashioned harvest celebrations brought to you by the folks at Missoula Parks and Recreation.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 26

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The Montana Grizzlies got single game record performances out of Jerry Louie McGee and Brady Gustafson, but it wasn't enough for the Griz to get the win at Cal Poly.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 19

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The Montana Grizzly football team is off to its seventh 2-0 start since 2000 and in the previous six, the Griz have gone on to average 12 wins a season.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Sept 12

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The Montana Grizzly football team is off to its seventh 2-0 start since 2000 and in the previous six, the Griz have gone on to average 12 wins a season.... more