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 ‘Missoula’

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 16

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Montana Plays at Texas A & M in a First Round NIT

The Montana Grizzlies will play the Texas A&M Aggies in College Station, Texas, in an NIT first round game on Tues. March 17 at 7 p.m. (Mountain). ... more

Big Sky Suspends NAU Head Coach for Postgame Incident Against Montana

Big Sky Conference Commissioner Doug Fullerton has announced that Northern Arizona men’s basketball coach Jack Murphy will be suspended for his team’s next postseason contest.... more

Lady Griz Rally, Win Big Sky Championship 60-49 (PHOTO GALLERY)

(PHOTO GALLERY) Montana came from behind to post a 60-49 victory in the championship game of the Big Sky Conference women’s basketball tournament at Dahlberg Arena.... more

Lady Griz Advance to Big Sky Championship, Sat. March 14 at 2pm

By JOEL CARLSON- The Lady Griz advanced to the title game for the 20th time in the 27-year history of the tournament with a 55-51 victory over EWU Friday afternoon.... more

MacLay Flats Nature Trail

By MALLORY KERENSA WELLS - It was a quiet Thursday evening and after a long week I knew that a hike was not only a wanted but a needed.... more

Selvig Named Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year

By JOEL CARLSON - Montana women’s basketball coach Robin Selvig was named the Big Sky Conference Coach of the Year Thursday. It’s the 21st conference coach of the year honor for Selvig.... more

Lady Griz Survive, Move on to Firday’s Semifinals

By JOEL CARLSON- Top-seeded Montana held on for a 69-67 victory over ISU on the opening day of the BSC women’s basketball tournament and will face No. 4 Eastern Washington Friday at 1:30 p.m. ... more

Lady Griz Seeking Tournament Title This Week

By JOEL CARLSON- The Big Sky Conference women’s basketball tournament opens today with four quarterfinal games. Montana, the No. 1 seed, will play No. 8 Idaho State at 8 p.m. in the final game of the day.... more

Tower Street Trails: A Bold Dinner Date

By BRENDEN SPERR - I see trees. Trees and squirrels everywhere, squirrels that are so bold they get right next to me then turn and run as if they’re playing chicken.... more

Kellie Cole Rubel Named Big Sky Conference CO-MVP

Montana senior guard Kellie Rubel, who led the Lady Griz to the regular-season championship, was named the Big Sky Conference co-MVP Tuesday. She was also named first-team All-Big Sky.... more

Tales and Trails: Love in the Time of Cold

By BRUCE AUCHLY - One day it’s warm and sunny, the next day cold and snowy. Welcome to that time on the calendar between winter and spring. ... more

“Work for Peace” Theme for 2015 Art Challenge

ATTENTION STUDENTS OF ALL AGES: Entries for the The Jeannette Rankin Peace Center's annual “Work for Peace” Art Challenge are due April 8, 2015.... more

Three Griz Named to Mens Basketball All-Big Sky Team

Montana’s Martin Breunig and Jordan Gregory have been named first team All-Big Sky Conference in 2015 as chosen by the conference coaches, announced the league office today. ... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | March 9

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of March 8

Jobs this week: A Project Manager/Lead Carpenter, Construction Laborer, Seasonal Nursery Yard Position, FT Cashiers, Houseman / Weekend Maintenance Worker, and More!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 9

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with a sporting event, film or a fundraiser. ... more

Griz Begin 2015 Spring Football Drills Monday, March 9th

By DAVE GUFFEY - First year head football coach Bob Stitt’s University of Montana Grizzly football team begins preparation for the 2015 season, with spring drills starting on Monday, March 9.... more

Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament Information

The pairings and schedules have been set for the eight-team BSC women’s and men’s basketball tournaments, which will be held Wed.-Sat. at Dahlberg Arena in Missoula.... more

Lady Griz fall at Bozeman 65-57

By JOEL CARLSON- The Lady Griz team fell in its final regular-season game Saturday afternoon, losing to Montana State 65-57 in Bozeman.... more

Big Sky Women’s Basketball Tournament Field Set

The seeds for the Big Sky women’s basketball tournament are set. Montana will be the No. 1 seed as the Lady Griz host the No. 8 seeded Idaho State Bengals. Sacramento State locked up the No. 2 seed with a ... more

Blue Mountain Folf Course: Too Much Fun to Hike Past

By DEVIN SLATER-It seems like if there is anything you want to do outdoors you can find it at Blue Mountain. But honestly, I wouldn’t know those trails. I never get past the folf course. ... more

Getting the Vid But Missing the Point

BY BOB WIRE-I am not a millennial, but I’m old enough to have taken typing class in junior high, ridden in the back of station wagons with no seat belts, and cruised around on my ten-speed with no helmet. ... more

The Clark Fork River Walk (VIDEO)

By CATHERINE ORFANOS: The Montana campus was quiet. The Oval, empty. Puddles formed across the sidewalk and my path through campus zigzagged between them. ... more

Rattlesnake Valley: Wood’s Gulch to Sheep Mountain

By REBECCA KEITH- I lean up against Jasmine; my red, secondhand mountain bike and stew in frustration. The 11-mile ride from Wood’s Gulch to the top of Sheep’s Mountain was kicking my butt. ... more

Another Successful Pantry Challenge

By ERIN TURNER-It’s March. What's that mean? If you ask most, they'll say "March Madness" or St. Paddy's Day. If you ask our boys, they'll exclaim it's the "end of the pantry challenge". YEEHAW!... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | March 2

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Employers Can Reserve Space Now for Missoula Career Fair

ATTENTION EMPLOYERS: Employer registration is under way now for the Missoula Job Service Career Fair, April 21, at the Hilton Garden Inn. Sign-up Now!... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of March 2

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of March 2

Jobs this week: Employees to Fish and Process Fish in Alaska, Convery Belt Trainee, Staff for a summer Outdoor Recreation Program for Youth, Laborers, Drivers and More!... more

Lady Griz Clinch Outright Title, Hosting Rights to BSC Tournament

By JOEL CARLSON-With a 69-59 victory over Eastern Washington Saturday afternoon at Dahlberg Arena the Lady Griz earned an outright league championship and hosting rights to the postseason tournament.... more

Kim Williams Trail: The Unexpected Wilderness in My Backyard

By MARTHA KREBILL- Walking the Kim Williams Trail that night had been a spur-of-the-moment decision, and I was captivated by the natural beauty of what I can describe literally as my backyard.... more

Lady Griz Cinch Share of Big Sky Title

By JOEL CARLSON-Montana won its 20th game of the season and clinched at least a share of the Big Sky Conference championship Thursday night with an 81-68 victory over Idaho at Dahlberg Arena. ... more

Rattlesnsake Recreation Area

By MEGAN FRANZ - I made it to the Main Rattlesnake Trailhead, locked up the bike, swung my beat up sack over my shoulder and started trekking along the old road that follows the creek. ... more

Missoula: Ten Books I Could Write About Us

BY BOB WIRE-Of all the books that could be entitled Missoula, an investigation into rape is not at the top of my list. Here's ten titles I could write about us.... more

Lady Griz Host Final Regular-Season Home Games

By JOEL CARLSON-The Lady Griz team will play its final regular-season home games this week when it hosts Idaho and Eastern Washington. The Lady Griz will face Idaho Thurs. at 7 p.m. and EWU Sat. at 2 p.m.... more

Early Start to the Fishing Season

By TONY REINHARDT -This time last year we were buried in snow and brutal cold, but the unseasonably warm weather this February has jump started the fishing season for many local anglers.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Feb 23

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN- It will be an extra special senior day on Saturday as the Montana Lady Griz honor Carly Selvig and Kellie Ruble before the game.... more

The Best Way to Clean a Kitchen Sink

By ERIN TURNER-My kitchen sink is a work horse. It takes a beating almost every day. So I rely on a super dependable, result-guaranteed method of cleaning my porcelain sink.... more

Breunig Earns League Honor

The Big Sky Conference has selected the University of Montana’s Martin Breunig the co-men’s basketball Player of the Week.... more

5th Annual Winter Brewfest Comes to Caras Park, Fri. Feb 27

The Missoula Downtown Association and KettleHouse Brewing Co. will host the fifth annual Winter BrewFest on Friday, Feb 27, 2015 from 5-10 pm in Caras Park.... more

This Week’s Arts & Culture Scene | Feb 23

Here's a look at what's happening this week in Missoula from music to dance, theatre to museum exhibits and more--brought to you by our friends at the Missoula Cultural Council.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Feb 23

Jobs this week: A Physical Therapist, Sales/Service Team Member, Grants Administrator, Director of Membership, Education Manager, Preschool Teacher and More! ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Feb 23

Check out the various bands and live music all over Missoula sprinkled with an Independent film or a fundraiser. ... more

Lady Griz Win 64-60, Complete Two-Game Road Sweep

By JOEL CARLSON-Kayleigh Valley scored 16 points in the second half, a career-high 26 for the game, to lead Montana to a 64-60 victory over Weber State Saturday afternoon.... more

Lady Griz Take Care of Business, Win Road Trip Opener Against ISU

By JOEL CARLSON-Coming off a disheartening home loss last Saturday, the Lady Griz team assumed the look of a champion Thursday night in claiming a 69-51 road victory over Idaho State.... more

My Most Spectacular Failure Was a Gift

By SHELLI JOHNSON - Former Lady Griz hoopster, Shelli Johsnon tells how getting cut from the team and losing her scholarship was a game changer that led her to an Epic Life! ... more

Greenough Park Trail: A Journey Into Art and Nature

By PARKER BRIXEY - I’m cruising into Greenough Park on my bike, entering the park at its southern end, closest to town. I’ve got my headphones in, and Wiz khalifa bumping loud. ... more

My Kingdom for a Glue Stick

BY BOB WIRE-Living among a bunch of creative types keeps life interesting. And expensive. This occurred to me today as I was searching high and low for a glue stick. ... more

Randolph-Moon Homestead Trail: Pushing Back Against Doubt and Disease

By GARRETT SLADE - It wasn’t until I had topped the final crest in the North Hills that my anxiety about the day fled. From my vantage point over Missoula the stress of the past two weeks began to melt away.... more