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 Jan 27

Check out the Live Music Scene as well as theater and fundraisers in various venues all over town.... more

Turn Down The Thermostat And Save

By ERIN TURNER - During a recent cold-snap in Montana, we moved our thermostat down to a “balmy” 64 degrees during the day and 60 degrees at night and saved!... more

Cole, Sullivan Lead Lady Griz to 68-52 Win Over WSU (Photo Gallery)

By AUSTIN SMITH - Kellie Cole and Jordan Sullivan both finished with a double-double en route to Montana's fifth Big Sky Conference victory Saturday afternoon.... more

Americana? Don’t Fence (mender) Me In

By BOB WIRE - I have to credit Rigel Banqueshot for introducing me to alt-country. I probably would have stumbled across the genre on my own, but like your first acid trip, it’s good to have an experienced gu... more

Montana Edges Host Bengals 59-54

By DAVE GUFFEY - Freshman guard Mario Dunn connected on a big three-pointer with 1:04 seconds to go to give the Grizzles an exciting, 59-54 come-from,-behind win over ISU Thursday night.... more

Lady Griz Back on Winning Track with 67-48 Win over ISU (Photo Gallery)

By JOEL CARLSON - The Lady Griz raced out to a 20-point halftime and led by a comfortable margin the entire second half to win 67-48 over Idaho State Thursday night at home.... more

1993-94 Lady Griz Team is No. 10 on the BSC “25 Greatest Women’s Moments” List

By Megan Lobdell - The 1993-94 Lady Griz basketball team that was nationally ranked that season is No. 10 on the BSC's “25 Greatest Women’s Moments” list.... more

Montana Men Begin Four-Game Road Trip Starting with ISU

By DAVE GUFFEY - The Montana Grizzlies begin a four-game Big Sky Conference road trip, starting with the Idaho State Bengals, Thurs. Jan. 23, and at Weber State on Sat. Jan. 25.... more

Lady Griz Open Four-Game Home Stand

By JOEL CARLSON - The Montana women’s basketball team will open a four-game home stand this week when it hosts Idaho State and Weber State at Dahlberg Arena.... more

Montana Split in Support of Neighboring Super Bowl Contenders

By JIM O'DAY - Montana was put in a unique situation last week when it was the only state where residents were able to purchase tickets to both the NFC and AFC championship games.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Jan 20

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - When Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson was born current Broncos quarterback Peyton Manning was in the seventh grade in New Orleans.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 20

Check out the Live Music Scene as well as theater and fundraisers in various venues all over town.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 20

Featured Jobs this week include: Sleep Technologist, Smoke Jumper, Development and Communications Manager, and Chaplain.... more

Montana Defeats UND 84-71 (Photo Gallery)

By DAVE GUFFEY - Kareem Jamar scored a career-high 33 points as the Montana Grizzlies defeated the University of North Dakota 84-71 Thursday evening in UM’s Dahlberg Arena.... more

North Dakota Rallies, Knocks Off Lady Griz 62-57

By JOEL CARLSON - North Dakota remained unbeaten in Big Sky Conference play with a 62-57 victory over Montana Thursday night at the Betty Engelstad Sioux Center in Grand Forks, N.D.... more

I Got The Rubbermaid Blues

By BOB WIRE -I'm living in tupperware hell. I have banned the reuse of all plastic containers. I got overwhelmed with the mismatched lids and containers that overran our kitchen cupboards.... more

MISA Offers Toddler Time Soccer Basics

By KIM S. - Since moving to Missoula am still trying to learn all the new “places” to take my kids. This week I was excited to find MISA - the Missoula Indoor Soccer Arena.... more

Keep Working After the Lottery

By CHERY SABOL - According to a Gallup survey of U.S. workers, two thirds of those surveyed would continue to show for work even if they won the lottery. Would you?... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Jan 13

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN -If the Montana Grizzlies need any historical references to motivate them after 1-3 start they can look back 40 years to Jud Heathcote’s 1973-74 Grizzlies. ... more

Seasonal Fruit Plus Juicing Adds Up To Healthy and Frugal Living

By ERIN TURNER - I can, freeze and dry seasonal fresh produce, but lately my family and I are into juicing--it's a frugal, healthy and delicious way to enjoy this season's citrus fruits.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 13

Check out the Live Music Scene as well as theater and fundraisers in various venues all over town.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 13

Featured Jobs this week include: Automotive Technician, Sales Manager, Logistics Coordinator and Lead Staff for at-risk youth. ... more

Portland State Beats Montana in Triple Overtime 81-78

PSU's Gary Winston made a 3-pointer with 2.4 seconds to go, as Portland State defeated the visiting Montana Grizzlies 81-78 in triple overtime on Saturday evening..... more

Lady Griz Overwhelm Vikings 94-58 (Photo Gallery)

By JOEL CARLSON - Kellie Cole lit the fire, Torry Hill made sure it stayed blazing, and the result was a 94-58 victory for the Lady Griz over Portland State Saturday afternoon at Dahlberg Arena.... more

Jeopardy Test Proves I am Dummer Than a Fifth Grader

By BOB WIRE - I took the online Jeopardy! test yesterday. Don’t bother setting your DVR; I won’t be appearing on the show any time soon.... more

Lady Griz Keep Hot Hands, Down Eagles 81-64

By JOEL CARLSON - Jordan Sullivan scored a career-high 24 points and Kellie Cole added 22, as Montana locked down Eastern Washington's three leading scorers to win 81-64.... more

Crittenden Maintains 4.0 GPA and is Named to All-District Team

The University of Montana’s Derek Crittenden has been named to the 2013 Capital One Academic All-District Division 1 first team with 4.0 GPA.... more

New Athletics Academic Center in Final Design Phase

By JOEL CARLSON - By the fall of 2015 anyone arriving on campus via Sixth Street will be faced with the Adams Center, Washington Grizzly Stadium and the ALL NEW Academic Center.... more

Lady Griz Host Eastern Washington and Portland State

By JOEL CARLSON - The Montana Lady Griz will host Eastern Washington and Portland State at Dahlberg Arena this week as it hosts its first Big Sky Conference games of the season. ... more

Rattlesnake And Paxson School Zones Get New Safety Signals

F.Y.I. - Reduced-speed zones around two Missoula elementary schools gained new flashing yellow lights this week. ... more

Hall Wins Pentathlon, Emry Leading Heptathlon

By JOEL CARLSON - Montana senior Lindsey Hall won the pentathlon Monday at the Montana State Combined Events Dual at Bozeman, and senior Austin Emry leads the heptathlon, which concludes Tuesday.... more

Citizens Encouraged to Recycle Christmas Trees

Missoula Parks and Recreation’s Urban Forestry Division is inviting citizens to drop off their cut Christmas trees to be recycled into productive mulch. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Jan 6

Check out the Live Music in various venues all over town. ... more

Are You Up For the 52-Week Savings Challenge?

By ERIN TURNER - Wanna save $1,378 by this time next year? Why not Join me and my family in the 52-week Challenge? It's easy and fairly painless. Here's how it works: ... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Jan 6

Featured Jobs this week include: Senior Software/Application Developer, Scholastic Dean and Program Manager for a teen recovery program.... more

Lady Griz Win By 20 in Big Sky Opener

By JOEL CARLSON - Kellie Cole scored a career-high 25 points, and Torry Hill dished out a career-high 14 assists to lead the Lady Griz to a 20 point victory at NAU.... more

Lady Griz Open Big Sky Play on the Road

By JOEL CARLSON - The Montana women’s basketball team will open Big Sky Conference play this week with games at Northern Arizona and Sacramento State. ... more

9 to 5 the Musical opens on Friday, January 17

As we turn the clocks ahead to 2014, the Missoula Community Theatre turns them back to the Rolodex era, with the January production of 9 to 5 the Musical.... more

First 1,000 Fans to Get in FREE at Jan 2 and Jan 4 Griz Basketball Games

By DAVE GUFFEY-Montana opens its Big Sky Season this weekend. The First 1,000 fans to get in free at Jan 2nd game against NAU & the Jan 4th game against Sacramento State. ... more

Missoula Firefighter to Compete in Combat Challenge During the Cotton Bowl

By JUSTIN WALSH - Missoula firefighter Joe Waggett to race in a special Firefighter Combat Challenge at the AT&T Cotton Bowl on January 3rd. ... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 30

Live Music in various venues all over town. HAPPY NEW YEAR Missoula!... more

New Year’s Food Rituals

By ERIN TURNER - Ever wonder why certain foods grace our tables for certain holidays? Here's a rundown of some our New Year's Food Rituals.... more

Missoula Job Service Featured Jobs | Week of Dec 30

Featured Jobs this week include: Senior Software/Application Developer, Scholastic Dean and Program Manager for a teen recovery program.... more

Lifelong Learning Center Offers Computer Based High School Equivalency Exam

By MONIQUE FORTMANN - Montana has adopted a new exam to assess if an individual has the knowledge and skills equal to or greater than one who graduates from High School and it is called the HiSET®.... more

Gifts for Pets a Family Tradition

By BOB WIRE - What do you get for the pet who has everything? Let me answer that with another question: what pet doesn't already have everything? ... more

Enjoy the Holidays: Drive Sober or Don’t Drive

FYI - The Missoula Police Department is increasing patrols through Jan. 5, 2014 to deter impaired, unsafe driving and keep the public safe on Missoula’s streets.... more

Missoula Community Theatre Auditions for Lend Me A Tenor

The Missoula Community Theatre is holding auditions for the production of Lend Me A Tenor on Jan 5th, 2014 from 12:30-5:00 p.m. ... more

Montana to Play 12-Game Schedule Again in 2014

By DAVE GUFFEY - The Montana Grizzly football team will once again play a 12-game schedule in 2014, with six home games, including the 114th Grizzly-Bobcat “Brawl of the Wild” game.... more

Make it Missoula Monday | Week of Dec 23

Live Music in various venues all over town including Nathan Eyre, David Baty, Band in Motion, and Larry Hirshberg. And check out the ECHO Christmas Eve Service at City Life Community Center.... more

Griz Down Dawgs 91-74 (Photo Gallery)

By AUSTIN SMITH -The Montana Grizzlies fought the scoreboard and their own composure Friday evening during an emotionally-charged 91-74 victory over UM-Western. ... more