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 ‘visit Missoula’

How to Enjoy the Nightlife of Missoula

If you really want to make the most of a visit to Missoula, you will need to know how to enjoy the nightlife. Here are a few options:... more

A Ranking of the Top Five Missoula Hotels

Ensure that your upcoming business trip or vacation to Missoula, Montana is outstanding by reading our in-depth ranking of the top 5 hotels in the area.... more

Top 8 Things to Do Near Missoula

In this guide, we will share some of the best activities you should do near Missoula, so click to know about these interesting activities. ... more

What to do in Missoula on a Rainy Day?

Whether you’d rather go museum-hopping or catch a game sipping a local brew, you have plenty of options to choose from in Missoula, Montana.... more

10 things to do in Missoula to celebrate an event

Missoula is a must-visit place when traveling to the US. Here are ten things you should do on your next trip. ... more

How to Holiday at Home in Missoula

Here are some of the things you could try in Missoula, but use our website to do a little searching and you'll be amazed at what you can find.... more

The Best Things to Do around Missoula

If you’re looking for something to do around Missoula, you’re in luck. Read our blog for all the details on Missoula’s best attractions.... more

Best Entertainment Places in Missoula

There's something available for everyone when you visit Missoula! Here are just a few: ... more

Weekend Student Activities in Missoula

If you study in Montana or somewhere nearby and think about a wonderful weekend destination, you should consider Missoula as a potential gateway.... more

Family Activities in Missoula

Missoula offers a wide variety of activities that can be fun and entertaining for parents and children alike.... more

Six Great Things to Do When You’re in Missoula

If you're looking for an unforgettable vacation, one great place to check out is Missoula, Montana.... more

4 Alternative Ways to Spend Time in a New Place

These four alternate ways to spend time and explore a new place could be exactly what you’re after.... more

4 Ways to Make a Holiday Trip to Missoula More Affordable

To make the trip become more affordable, here are some suggestions about how to turn it into a reality.... more

Ultimate Packing Guide for a Road Trip with Kids

Here is an ultimate packing guide to assist you in planning all of the essentials you may need on your road trip!... more

10 Reasons Missoula Montana is Perfect For A Second Honeymoon

Are you looking to celebrate your love with a second honeymoon right here in America? There are few choices as ideal as Missoula, Montana.... more

Renting Condos For A Staycation

From saving money to enjoying amenities, condos have it all. Whether you're visiting for few weeks or months, getting away from a stressful work life is a must. ... more

How to Plan the Ideal Montana Weekend Getaway

This handy guide is going to help you plan the perfect weekend getaway in Montana so that you start having fun as soon as possible.... more

A Step-By-Step Guide to Building a Lasagne

By BOB ZIMORINO - The purpose of this photo journal is to demonstrate how to build a lasagna.... more

Zim’s Chili

By BOB ZIMORINO - There is chili and then there is chili. It is one of those dishes that almost anyone that cooks probably has a version of. This is my ground beef chili.... 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

Ladybugs To The Rescue

BY BOB WIRE- An estimated 10 quintillion insects are creeping around on the planet right now. That’s roughly the number of emails Hillary Clinton deleted from her personal account.... more

Mowing the Grass to Make Some Lettuce

BY BOB WIRE- My son, Rusty is trying to get a part-time job for the summer. Rather than donating plasma or sperm, I suggested he try his hand at lawn mowing.... more

Motivational Words for the Boys of Summer

BY BOB WIRE- To inspire my fellow denizens of the diamond, I’ve prepared a motivational speech that I’ll break out as soon as we hit our first slump. ... more

2 Rivers + 2 Hours = Missoula Fun

By JASON SHREDER - Many towns, such as Boise, Asheville, and Bend boast great river opportunities in or close to town--but here's why Missoula trumps them all when it comes to river fun.... more

This Man’s Job is Breathtaking

BY BOB WIRE- I recently went in for a pulmonary function test. I’ve been having trouble breathing since, oh, 2008, and this spring it got pretty bad.... more

AARP’s RealPad vs. the iPad: My Senior Moment

BY BOB WIRE- My Aunt Byrdona emailed me the other day. "I want to get this tablet," she wrote. "What do you think?” I clicked the link and there it was, AARP's RealPad, a tablet for seniors.... more

Bee All You Can Bee

BY BOB WIRE- I was recently featured in a video called "Buggin' Out for the Butterfly House". In this follow-up blog I'll disccuss the green screen, lip synching, and flashing my grapes to the cast and crew.... more

Buggin’ Out for the Butterfly House

BY BOB WIRE- When a friend from the Missoula Butterfly House and Insectarium asked me if I'd be interested in helping them with a fund raising project, I said yes, on one condition....... more

Plumbing? Let Me Get My Snorkel

BY BOB WIRE- Recently I decided to investigate our wobbly, leaky kitchen faucet, but not because I wanted to stop the leak that was soaking everything under the sink. ... more

Travelodge Blues

BY BOB WIRE- On a recent family outing to Seattle for my son's lacrosse match, I made the mistake of trying to save a few bucks on a hotel one night.... more

Mr. Wire Goes to Helena

BY BOB WIRE- Everyone complains about our government. So this week I went to see Helena to see what the hell was going on there, and how I could help straighten things out.... more

There’s a Method to My March Madness

BY BOB WIRE- There's Nothing like March Madness! After sifting through all the information I gathered from every college basketball game I watched this season, I carefully filled out my bracket.... 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

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

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

Inside the Glamorous World of Journalism

By BOB WIRE- Another Friday morning, another tedious story meeting at the newspaper. I had bigger fish to fry. That’s why I smelled like fish...... more

Sandwich Guy

By BOB WIRE- During Grizzly games I've been helping out at Paisano's Sandwich Counter. Oh, don't worry—I'm not actually handling the food. I handle the money and the schmoozing.... more

The Seinfeld of Blog Posts

By BOB WIRE- You think it's a cakewalk, coming up with a new topic to write a thousand words about every week? And not be about farts? Not that Missoula isn't rife with material. ... more

The Bar Gig From Hell Part 2: The Revenge

By BOB WIRE- The bartenders poured stiff drinks. That’s what got us through another night of pop country requests, complaints about the disco balls, and a general absence of love in the room. ... more

The Bar Gig From Hell, Part I

By BOB WIRE- My ego was beaten like a dirty throw rug this weekend, when we played a double-header in a new bar in unfamiliar territory. I overheard someone say, “who the hell is Bob Wire?” ... more

The Guitar that Invented Rock n’ Roll

By BOB WIRE- The Fender Stratocaster is to rock and roll what the basketball is to basketball. Its importance to rock music can’t be overstated.... more

Top Album Picks for 2014

By BOB WIRE- I'm sorry, but if you make beats that doesn't make you a musician or songwriter any more than picking up dog poop makes me a veterinarian.... more

Ten Things To Tell Your Dog Today

By BOB WIRE- My dog Houdini knows fewer English language words than Koko the gorilla. If only for one day, this magnificent beast could understand everything I’m telling him.... more

My Turkey Can Beat Your Turkey

By BOB WIRE- Our Thanksgiving meal was circumvented in a twisted, serpentine, Gordian knot of cooking contortions thanks to the numerous dietary considerations presented by our family.... more

It’s Supposed to Be No Fun. You’re Sick.

By BOB WIRE- The phone rings. "Dad," says a voice that sounds like Louis Armstrong with a sinus infection. "I don't feel good." It's Nurse Dad to the rescue!... more

You Spin Me Right ‘Round, Baby

By BOB WIRE- I enjoy moving at a high rate of speed without really getting anywhere so I was perfectly suited to participate in the second annual Ride-A-Thon, a fund raiser for A Carousel For Missoula.... more

You Can’t Take That On The Plane

By BOB WIRE- I traveled to the Bay Area last week to play some music at a fund raiser. The Delta agent looked at my guitar case like it contained fifty pounds of Ebola-infested squid.... more

40 Ways to Hog the Hot Tub

By BOB WIRE- Like to be by yourself in the hot tub? if you give one of these little conversational nuggets a try, you might be surprised at how quickly you find yourself alone.... more

Phones In Restaurants: Less Welcome Than Cockroaches

By BOB WIRE-If you're sitting with someone in a restaurant, reading this blog on your phone, I hope the waitress spills a pot of scalding coffee all over your naughty bits. And your phone.... more

My Bad: I’m the King of Inappropriate

By BOB WIRE- Who among us has not said something extremely inappropriate in a setting full of horrified witnesses? I should have a mantel full of trophies for that shit.... more