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 ‘Glacier National Park’

5 Amazing Places To Visit In Montana: A Travel Guide

If you're looking for a fantastic travel destination, look no further than Montana.... more

Top 10 Cars That Fit the Montana Outdoors

To go out and enjoy Montana's outdoors, the first thing you need is a vehicle that can take you where you want to go. Here are some ideas:... more

4 Reasons Why You Should Visit National Parks in the US

If you're yet to visit any of the US National Parks, here are four reasons to do so. ... more

6 Reasons to Visit a National Park

There are many great reasons why you should definitely have a national park at the top of your to-do travel list!... more

Top 10 Hikes Around Missoula

By JEFF JONES - An insider's perspective of the top 10 hikes in and around Missoula, Montana.... more

Montana River Cruises: Why You Should Make it Part of Your Trip

Are you planning on making a trip to Montana? Here is why you should do it in the form of a scenic river cruises. ... 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

Best Day Trips From Missoula for Nature Lovers!

Experience western Montana's  Big Sky country for a truly wild adventure, without forgetting the comfort of urban life. ... more

How Climate Change Links to Low Birth Rates

From Glacier National park’s rapidly dissolving glaciers to high water temperatures in trout streams, the effects of a changing climate in Montana is affecting more than just the natural environment – but... more

Glacier Park Plows Make Quick Progress Past The Loop

By DILLON TABISH - Barely two weeks into their winter-clearing work, the road crew on the west side of Glacier National Park has already plowed a large portion of Going-to-the-Sun Road.... more

11 Northwest Montana Adventures to Add to Your 2016 Checklist

By DILLON TABISH - What better way to make 2016 memorable and constructive than exploring the vast outdoors. Here are a few worthwhile Northwest Montana adventures to try this year.... more

Busiest June on Record in Glacier Park

By DILLON TABISH - Over 414,000 people visited the national park last month, keeping 2015 on record-breaking pace.... more

Trout in Hot Water

By TRISTAN SCOTT - Historic stream temperature highs, low flows threaten Northwest Montana's cold-water fish.... more

Park Service to Open Iconic Sun Road On Glacier’s West Side

By DILLON TABISH - Summer is Here! The National Park Service announced Wednesday that the Going-to-the-Sun Road, is expected to fully open on the west side on Thurs., June 11.... more

Summer Season Begins in Glacier National Park

Memorial Day Weekend marks beginning of primary visitation season at national park.... more

Bike Going-to-the-Sun Road

By DILLON TABISH - After a mild winter, plow crews are making quick work of Going-to-the-Sun Road and are already just shy of Logan Pass.... more

Glacier Park Plows Within Two Miles of Logan Pass

By JUSTIN FRANZ - Plow crews on Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road are within sight of Logan Pass.... more

Steinbeck’s Short Stay

By KELLYN BROWN - Imagine what he would have written if he would have spent a week here.... 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

Studying the Mountain Monarchs

By DILLON TABISH - At the midway point of a three-year study, researchers are learning how mountain goats are adapting to large visitation in Glacier National Park.... more

Tragic Ending to Ambitious Young Life

By TRISTAN SCOTT - Experienced BASE jumper had successfully leapt from Glacier Park's Mount Siyeh prior to fatal attempt.... more

Glacier Park Transitions to Fall After Historic Summer

By DILLON TABISH - Iconic Sun Road slated to open through most of October as visitation approaches record high.... more

Tourism Mishaps

By KELLYN BROWN-As a 20-something slinging trash for the park service in the early 2000s, I was privy to my fair share of tourist mishaps, from the comical to the tragic. ... more

Iceberg Lake in Glacier National Park

By DILLON TABISH-The 4.5-mile hike to Iceberg is considered one of the quintessential treks in Glacier National Park.... more

Entire Sun Road Expected to Open by Holiday Weekend

The entire Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park is anticipated to be open to vehicle travel by this weekend, allowing access to Logan Pass.... more

July Courses at the Glacier Institute

The Glacier Institute has announced it’s July courses, which will get you outside and enjoying the Flathead!... more

Glacier Park Prepares for Busy Summer

Plow crews are ascending Going-to-the-Sun Road, clearing several feet of snow and preparing Glacier National Park for the upcoming summer season.... more

Hamilton Native Tony Neaves Shares His Paralympic Experience

By MARK VOSBURGH - When Nancy Stevens moved to Summit County, Colo., 21 years ago, her guide dog kept bringing her to the door of the same shop. Blind since birth, Stevens, 52, finally went inside. ... more

Is Roller Skiing For The Rest of Us?

By MARK VOSBURGH -Elite Nordic racers and Olympic hopefuls train on roller skis during the off season, but are roller skis for us mere mortals and recreational skiers?... more

Biologist: Flathead Lake Likely to Reach Warmest Temps Ever

By BEACON STAFF - The vast waters of Flathead Lake could reach their warmest temperature on record this summer.... 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

This Week’s Missoula News Highlights – Week of June 24

By TOM DIDDEL- A recap of the week’s most talked-about stories in Missoula: Father of Cash Hyde, Michael Hyde is running for Mayor, Corvallis boys save 2-year-old from drowning, HOT summer weather!... more

This Week’s Missoula News Highlights – Week of June 10

By TOM DIDDEL- A recap of the week’s most talked-about stories in Missoula: Barry Beach back in prison, New Superintendent for GNP, Missoula's Downtown Bridges, Apartment Fire in East Missoula & more!... more

Glacier Plows Make Progress Toward Logan Pass

Plow crews in Glacier National Park are slowly making their way up Going-to-the-Sun Road. As of May 3, the road was open to vehicles as far as Avalanche on the west side and Rising Sun on the east side. ... more

Breaking The Ice

By DILLON TABISH - There’s less than 10 square miles of glacial ice remaining in Glacier National Park, and it’s expected to disappear completely in under 20 years.... more

One last fall hike (or two) at Glacier National Park

By DONNA HULL - Do summer crowds discourage you from visiting Glacier National Park? Now is the time for one last fall hike in a national park that’s practically in Missoula’s backyard.... more