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

24th Annual Run for the Trees Slated for April 16

Celebrate National Arbor Month with a fun walk or run along the Riverfront trail system. The 24th annual Run for The Trees is Saturday, April 16, at 10 a.m. at Silver Park.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 11

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It was thirty years ago this spring when prep softball made its debut in Montana with the first championship held in Cut Bank. ... more

Missoula Spring Fishing Report

By TONY REINHARDT- The new Montana fishing season started in March and it was a great month to be on the water. The Skwala stonefly hatch begins in March. ... more

5th Annual Doggie Dash Fun Run Slated for May 15

Missoula Parks & Rec and Missoula Animal Control invite you and your four-legged buddy to the 5th annual Doggie Dash Pet Expo and Fun Run on Sun. May 15, at Silver Park. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 4

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The U Conn women's basketball team has posted exactly 100 wins between Jan. 4, 2014 and Tuesday's title game. Over the same span of time the Montana Lady Griz have won 58 games.... more

Public Comment Sought on Bike Skills Parks Through April 22

Missoula Parks and Recreation is seeking public comment on draft master plans for two new bike skills parks through Friday, April 22.... more

Is Spring Early or Late?

By BRUCE AUCHLY - The warm weather of February and early March could lead one to believe in an early spring, which feels nice but is not necessarily a good thing.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 28

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Well it appears that facing a Montana team during the season is good way for Syracuse to get ready for a trip to the final Four.... more

Mount Jumbo South Zone Re-Opens March 22

Mount Jumbo’s South Zone, including the Saddle Road and all points south of the road, re-opens to the public on Tuesday, March 22.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 21

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- While the 2015-16 season ended a little bit earlier than the Montana Lady Griz would have liked the outstanding group of seniors had an tremendous 4 year run.... more

A Decade Later, Griz Look to Corral Wolf Pack in Postseason

By ERIC TABER- The Grizzlies take on the Nevada Wolf Pack in the first round of the CBI Tournament tonight. Tip off is at 8 p.m. MST. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 14

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The last time Oregon State was in the NCAA tournament it was March of 1990 and "Pretty Woman" was No. 1 at the box office (a fact I learned from coach Tinkle).... more

Griz Return to Reno to Play in CBI

By ERIC TABER- The Grizzlies will return to Reno this week to face the University of Nevada after accepting an invitation to play in the 2016 College Basketball Invitational.... more

Griz Comeback Attempt Falls Short in Championship

By ERIC TABER- The Montana Grizzlies battled back from a 14-point first half deficit, but missed a chance to knock off Weber State in the BSC championship Sat. night in Reno.... more

Griz Advance With Season-Best Shooting Performance

By ERIC TABER- The Montana men’s basketball team will play in the Big Sky Conference championship game for the second-straight year after an 81-72 victory in the tournament semifinal.... more

Griz Swat Hornets, Advance to Semifinal

By ERIC TABER- The Montana Grizzlies smothered Sacramento State with defense en route to a 70-53 win in the Big Sky Conference quarterfinal.... more

Griz Face Hornets to Open Big Sky Tournament

By ERIC TABER- The No. 2 seed Grizzlies will get a shot at redemption in the Big Sky Conference quarterfinal, as UM faces No. 10 seed Sacramento State for the third time this season.... more

How to Start Training for Your June/July Marathon

By DAN LYNE-Believe it or not, it’s time to start training for the Missoula Marathon (July 10) or any number of other Northwest marathons this summer.... more

Two Grizzlies Named to All-Conference Team

By ERIC TABER- Montana senior forward Martin Breunig has been named to the Big Sky first team all-conference list, and junior guard Walter Wright has been given an honorable mention. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of March 7

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The Montana Lady Griz open Big Sky Touranament play facing Northern Arizona who struggled to a last place finish in 2016. ... more

Griz Fall to UNC, Miss Shot at Conference Title

By ERIC TABER- (PHOTO GALLERY) A cold second half shooting against the visiting Northern Colorado Bears cost the Montana Grizzlies a share of the Big Sky Conference regular season championship.... more

Montana Defense Smothers North Dakota

By ERIC TABER- The Montana Grizzlies' defense shut down the potent attack of North Dakota, holding UND to 27 points below their season average and a 71-46 victory in Missoula on Thurs. night.... more

Michael Oguine: UM’s ‘High-Motor’ Freshman

By ERIC TABER- Consider these familiar names from the past: Larry Krystkowiak, Micheal Ray Richardson, Bob Cope, Kareem Jamar. Now there's another player that could earn him a spot on that prestigious list. ... more

Will Winter Wither?

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Is winter done? Kaput, finished, terminated? It would seem so, though you may not want to bet the farm subsidies on it.... more

Mismo Magical Meet 2016 at Frenchtown Junior High School

Mismo Gymnastics of Missoula, Montana is hosting the 14th annual Mismo Magical Meet this coming weekend, March 4th – 6th, at Frenchtown Junior High School.... more

Griz Host North Dakota and Northern Colorado This Week

By ERIC TABER- The Grizzlies wrap up the regular season at home this week, hosting North Dakota and Northern Colorado before hitting the road to Reno for the BSC tournament.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Feb 29

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The Lady Griz are going to get plenty of frequent flyer miles in the next 10 days with flights to Grand Forks, Greeley and then Reno for the league tournament.... more

Cold Shooting Dooms Griz at Weber State

By ERIC TABER- The Montana Grizzlies, held back by a cold shooting night, missed an opportunity to beat Weber State for the first time on their home court in a regular season game since 2004.... more

Montana at Weber State in Marquee Showdown

By ERIC TABER- The outright first place spot on the Big Sky Conference men's basketball table is up for grabs on Sat. as the Grizzlies take on Weber State in Ogden, Utah, at 7 p.m.... more

Career Nights for Wright and Moorehead Lead Griz Past Bengals

By ERIC TABER- Bobby Moorehead, a true freshman, put down eight three-pointers to set a new career high of 24 points, helping Montana to a 90-77 win over ISU in Pocatello on Thursday.... more

Griz on the Road to Face Idaho State and Weber This Week

By ERIC TABER- The Montana Grizzlies will set out on one of the most challenging road trips of the season this week, facing Idaho State on Thurs. night and Weber State on Sat. night.... more

City Council Approves 12 New Playgrounds

The City Council unanimously approved the purchase and installation of of new playground equipment for 12 playgrounds throughout Missoula.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Feb 22

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- The Griz will find their last regular season road trip easy in the way of travel, but the two foes awaiting them do not promise to be overly hospitable. ... more

Griz Pick Up Sweep of Cats in Physical Brawl of the Wild

By ERIC TABER-The Montana Grizzlies scrapped and clawed their way to an 87-78 victory over the Montana State Bobcats Saturday night in Missoula.... more

Griz-Cat Round Two Set For Saturday

By ERIC TABER-The Grizzlies and Bobcats will square off for the 293rd time as the Brawl of the Wild series continues in Missoula on Saturday, Feb. 20.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Feb 15

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN-Currently the Lady Griz are just a half a game out of fourth place, a spot they need to reach to ensure a first round tournament.... more

Griz look to make it two-for-two Against Jacks

By ERIC TABER-The Grizzlies will be looking for their third-straight win, and their second win of the year over the NAU Lumberjacks tonight in Missoula. ... more

Hot Shooting Griz Burn T-Birds 86-53

By ERIC TABER-(PHOTO GALLERY) Montana shot over 70 percent from three-point land, and four players reached double figures in a blowout 86-53 victory over Southern Utah Thursday night.... more

Griz Hosting Southern Utah and Northern Arizona This Week

By ERIC TABER - The Griz return home this week for the team's longest home stand of the year as Southern Utah and Northern Arizona pay a visit on Thurs. and Sat.... more

Schillinger Returns Home as Safeties Coach at UM

By ERIC TABER-Former Montana All-Big Sky Conference and NFL safety Shann Schillinger returns as a safeties coach under Griz head coach Bob Stitt.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Feb 8

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- On Sunday the Denver Broncos became only the 8th NFL franchise to win at least 3 Super Bowl Titles.... more

Breunig Sets Career High in Come from Behind Griz Win

By ERIC TABER - Martin Breunig had a career high night of 32 points and led UM to a 82-80, come from behind win over Portland State in Oregon on Saturday.... more

Super Bowl 50 Extra Patrols

Missoula Police, Highway Patrol and the County Sheriff’s Office, are urging football fans to call the play now: drinking OR driving, not both.... more

Hornets Rally to Defeat Griz

By ERIC TABER - After a rock solid first half by the Grizzlies, Sacramento State erased a 20-point lead in the second, defeating UM 83-79 in California.... more

Lady Griz Hold Off Hornets

By JOEL CARLSON -Montana survived Thursday night and snapped a four-game losing streak in the process with a 90-83 win over the Hornets at Dahlberg Arena.... more

Grizzlies Announce Incoming Class of 2016

By ERIC TABER-Montana head coach Bob Stitt unveiled his second recruiting class Wed., welcoming 31 players to UM on national signing day.... more

Running in Missoula

By DAN LYNE-Last summer, I stopped in Missoula, a small city along the Clark Fork River in western Montana. I had heard that Missoulians are very passionate about their running. ... more

Lady Griz Back Home For Hornets, Vikings

By JOEL CARLSON -The Lady Griz, on the road the last two weeks, returns home to host Sacramento State on Thurs. at 7pm and Portland State on Sat. at 2pm.... more

Winter Carnival at Marshall Mountain Feb 6

By BECKY GOODRICH-Join Parks and Recreation for the second annual Winter Carnival at Marshall Mountain on Saturday, February 6, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Feb 1

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- No Super Bowl has gone into overtime and none have ended in a shutout.... more