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

Posts Tagged ‘Biking’

Public Invited to Marshall Mountain Celebration September 12

Missoula Parks and Recreation invites residents to tour the new Marshall Mountain Park on Sunday, September 12, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.... more

Mountain Biking – 5 Crucial Things That You Should Ask as a New Biker

If you are starting as a new biker, what should you know? How can you prepare yourself for mountain biking?... more

A Beginner’s Guide for Buying a Bike

Choose a good bike that is well-suited to the type of riding you do regularly.... more

Tips for Becoming a Biking Family

These are tips you'll need as a beginner cyclist to help every member of the family get on board with biking.... more

Buying Your First Bike? Here Are Some Tips From the Experts

Here are crucial points to follow for a successful purchase of your first bike.... more

Cycling Safety Tips From the Experts

Before you hop on your bike, get some expert tips on how to make your ride safer.... more

Public Invited to Grant Creek Trail Grand Opening This Thursday

FREE icecream for the first 100 people at the grand opening of the Grant Creek Trail--Missoula's newest bicycle-pedestrian trail. The Celebration will be at 5:30 pm , Thursday July 9.... more

Smokejumpers’ Trail

By COLIN BRUST - We trudged up the steep and rocky path, leaving the Kim Williams riverside trail below us. Even though there was a great view of the Missoula Valley behind us, I felt uneasy.... more

Life is One Big Adventure

By NADIA WHITE - This last fall, 21 first-semester freshmen joined me at UM's School of Journalism in a class about adventure writing. We defined adventure loosely, and they wrote stories that described who the... more

Sunday Streets Missoula, Higgins Edition, June 1, 2014

Get Moving and Get connected while celebrating sustainable transportation and healthy living at the Higgins Edition of Sunday Streets Missoula on June 1, 2014 ... more

Women Bike Missoula Inaugural Celebration Ride, April 25

ATTENTION Missoula area women of all ages, abilities and biking experience--Join Women Bike Missoula on their Inaugural Celebration Ride around town on Friday, April 25 at 5:15 PM.... more

Biking the Hiawatha Trail With Kids

By ANNIE GRAHAM & BRANDON KENDALL - This year for our Memorial Day weekend adventure, we decided to bike the Route of the Hiawatha, a 15 mile “Rails to Trails” bike path that begins in Montana and ends in I... more