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

Griz Running Backs Set to Play Key Role in 2016

By ERIC TABER - Upon first glance of the Montana Grizzlies' pass-happy offense under head coach Bob Stitt, it might be easy for fans to forget about the running backs.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Aug 22

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - When Robin Selvig took over the University of Montana women's basketball program it had won 32 games combined in the previous 4 years.... more

Fishing Restrictions Lifted on Smith and Sun Rivers

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks has lifted fishing restrictions on two central Montana rivers in the wake of recent cooler weather.... more

Griz Football: Fall Camp Enters Home Stretch

By ERIC TABER - Fresh off a day's rest, the Montana Grizzlies returned to the field inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium on Monday morning for the 14th practice of fall camp.... more

Baker Returning to Lady Griz

By JOEL CARLSON - Katie Baker is returning to Montana as the program's director of basketball administration, a new position on first-year coach Shannon Schweyen's staff.... more

Petrino Joins Lady Griz Staff

By JOEL CARLSON - New Lady Griz coach Shannon Schweyen may have gone outside the program's lineage to find her new assistant, but she still brought in someone with strong ties to the state of Montana.... more

Experience and Versatility Key to Success of a Strong D-line

By ERIC TABER - The 2016 Grizzlies will once again boast one of the nation's best D-lineman in second-year starter, and second-year heir to the #37 throne, Caleb Kidder. ... more

Griz Show All-Around Strength in First Scrimmage

By ERIC TABER - Montana opens the 2016 campaign on Sept. 3 against Saint Francis, under the lights at Washington-Grizzly Stadium. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Aug 15

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - When Robin Selvig took over the University of Montana women's basketball program it had won 32 games combined in the previous 4 years.... more

Hunting Elk in August

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Elk shoulder seasons this year will allow hunters in some hunting districts to go after antlerless elk starting Aug. 15.... more

Schweyen Named New Lady Griz Coach

By ERIC TABER -In an announcement that lacks any of the surprise of Robin Selvig’s retirement two weeks ago, Shannon Cate-Schweyen has been chosen to take over the league’s flagship program.... more

Griz Open Camp Ranked No. 13

By ERIC TABER - On the eve of the 2016 fall camp opening practice, the Montana Grizzlies will take the field ranked as the No. 13 team in the nation.... more

Kidder Named Preseason All-American

By ERIC TABER -Caleb Kidder, the Big Sky Conference preseason Defensive Player of the Year, was recently named to the STATS FCS preseason All-America second team.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of Aug 1

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It's hard to imagine going to game and not seeing Robin Selvig on the sidelines. The last time UM played a women's basketball game without Selvig was March 4, 1978.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of July 25

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - For the first time in recent memories the Lumberjacks of NAU are picked as the pre-season favorite to win the Big Sky Title, a choice made both by both sports writers and coaches.... more

That First Gun

By BRUCE AUCHLY - Just the other week, I gave my granddaughter and grandson their first firearms; a .22 rifle and .410 shotgun.... more

Griz Tabbed as Big Sky Runner-Up

By ERIC TABER - The University of Montana Grizzlies have been picked to finish second in the 2016 Big Sky Conference preseason polls by both the media and the league coaches.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of July 18

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - For the first time in over half a century the Griz will face the USC Trojans in basketball.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of July 11

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - The College World Series title won by Coastal Carolina in June marked the sixth time a school that has faced the Montana Grizzlies football team ( since 1960) has won the College Base... more

Marathon Training Tips – Post Marathon Recovery

By DAN LYNE-Completing a 26 mile race is an extreme test of endurance that takes a lot out of your body. Your best strategy for full recovery starts in the first 30 minutes after the race. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of June 27

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - I was delighted with the news last week that former Griz coach and playe,r Blaine Taylor, had gotten back into coaching.... more

Breunig to Play Pro Basketball in His Native Germany

By ERIC TABER - Former Grizzly basketball standout, Martin Breunig has signed a two-year contract to play professional basketball in his native Germany for MHP Riesen Ludwigsburg.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of June 20

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Missoula Osprey manager Joe Mather is doing something this season that none of the other three managers to guide the O's to a title did, come back the next year.... more

Parks and Rec and Missoula Youth Rugby Celebrate Free Olympic Day Event

By BECKY GOODRICH -Kids and families are invited to a free Olympic Day celebration on Saturday, June 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Playfair Park.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of June 13

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Hockey fans everywhere were saddened by the news of the passing of Gordie Howe, Mr. Hockey, to more than a generation.... more

Reminder for Boaters: Stop at AIS Inspection Stations

By JOLEEN TADEJ - As the summer recreation season gets underway, water enthusiasts around the state need to remember to do their part in keeping Montana’s waters free from aquatic invasive species.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of June 6

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It's hard to believe that it was 40 years ago this week that the first Wyoming-Montana all-star games were played.... more

Splash Montana Water Park Opens This Weekend, Opens Daily June 11

By BECKY GOODRICH - Splash Montana opens on Sat., June 4. The facility will be open Sat. and Sun., June 4 and 5 from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m., and will begin daily operation on Sat., June 11.... more

Marathon Training Tips – Weeks 11-16 for June/July Marathons

By DAN LYNE-In my last post, I discussed the need to improve your strength to ensure you build injury resistant muscles, tendons and ligaments. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 23

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Later this week another High School sports season comes to an end as track and softball crown their Champions.... more

Griz Top FCS in Attendance for Second-Straight Season

By ERIC TABER - For the second-straight season the Montana has packed in more fans than any other program in FCS football, and in 2015 dew more fans than 44 FBS programs as well.... more

Holmes, Feller Named Grizzly Cup Winners

Tyrone Holmes, of the Montana football team, and McCalle Feller, of the Lady Griz basketball team, were named the annual winners of the Department of Athletics’ Grizzly Cup.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 16

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It's hard to put in perspective the accomplishment of the University of Montana Softball team in reaching the Big Sky Tournament.... more

5th Annual Doggie Dash Expo and Fun Run May 15

Missoula Parks & Recreation 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 May 11

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Twenty-five years ago this week the 1991 American Legion baseball season began, a season that would see the AA Mavericks claim a state title. ... more

Wortham Reunites With DeCuire as Assistant Coach

By ERIC TABER - Rachi Wortham, the former director of player personnel at Oregon State, has been selected to join the Montana men’s basketball staff as an assistant under Grizzly head coach Travis DeCuire.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of May 2

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Few Montana public officials have ever been more closely tied to a sport than the late Conrad Burns. Burns refereed in Montana high School football as well as the Frontier Conference.... more

Mount Jumbo North Zone Opens May 1

By BECKY GOODRICH - All areas on Mount Jumbo. north of Saddle Road will re-open to the public on Sunday, May 1.... more

Breunig Named Griz MVP for Second-Straight Year

By ERIC TABER -For the second-straight year Martin Breunig has been named the recipient of the Carl E. Dragstedt Award for Grizzly basketball’s most valuable player.... more

Kids, Families Invited to FREE Unplug and Play! Kick-Off Celebration on May 1

Families are invited to the 5th annual Let’s Move! Missoula: Unplug and Play! kick-off celebration on Sunday, May 1, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at McCormick Park. ... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 25

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - Saturday's Grizzly intra-squad scrimmage brought to mind the days under Don Read when the Griz did something similar.... more

Maroon Pulls Out Victory Over White in Spring Game

By ERIC TABER - Senior quarterback Brady Gustafson piled up 300 yards passing, completing 15 of 32 passes to lead the Maroon team to a 27-26 win over the White team in the spring game.... more

UM Sports Trivia | Week of April 18

By CHRIS WALTERSKIRCHEN - It was 40 years ago this week that Michigan State reached out to Missoula to get their new basketball coach--Jud Heathcote. ... more

More Training Tips – Weeks 5-10 for June/July Marathons

By DAN LYNE-With Missoula and many other Northwest marathons coming up in June and early July it’s not too late to register and even start training (provided you have a running base.)... more

Offense Gets Rolling in Second Griz Scrimage

By ERIC TABER-The UM corps of running backs blew up for 207 yards and three touchdowns in the Griz football squad’s second scrimmage of the 2016 spring season on Saturday. ... more

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