The "M" is an easy hike. Well, if you are in great shape. But even if you aren't is still is a trek worth taking.
It's a 3/4 mile strenuous hike up 11 switchbacks which ends up bringing you 620 feet in elevation. As you start out you can see the beautiful campus of the U of M and the mountains surrounding Missoula. As you get farther up you can see the whole valley, the Clark Fork River and right into the Washington Grizzly stadium - the home of the Montana Grizzlies football team. Go Griz!
Some interesting tidbits about the "M" and how it was formed is that it was built by the U of M forestry students in 1908. They carried stones up the zig zag path. In 1912 it was replaced with a wooden "M" which blew off in 1915. It was then replaced with a large stone "M" which was in place till 1968 when it was replaced with the concrete "M" we see still today!
Every day you can see lots of people making the trek. It is not an easy hike but what you see from the top makes it all worth it. It's not easy in the middle of winter with the switchbacks being frozen or in the dead of summer when the weather is hitting 90's. But you can't spend time in Missoula and not hike the "M". The University bookstore even sells t-shirts that claim "I Hiked the M".
So get hiking!
Check out other fun spots in Missoula as well http://gonw.about.com/od/attractionsmt/tp/missoulaattractions.htm
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