WATCH: The giant M and a century-long Miners tradition

Colorado School of Mines freshmen have been adding stones to the M in an initiation tradition that spans more than a century.

Kevin Beaty

Aug. 20, 2017, 12:20 p.m.

The Colorado School of Mines M on Lookout Mountain, Aug. 20, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

colorado school of mines; golden; lookout mountain; m climb; denverite; colorado; kevinjbeaty; — The Colorado School of Mines massive "M" on Mt. Zion, Aug. 20, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Ever notice that giant M planted on the mountainside above Golden? It stands for “Mines,” that is, the Colorado School of Mines. The college’s freshmen have been adding stones to the M every year in an initiation tradition that spans more than a century.

The Colorado School of Mines freshman sit on the giant M on Lookout Mountain after their initiation climb, Aug. 20, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

colorado school of mines; golden; lookout mountain; m climb; denverite; colorado; kevinjbeaty; — The Colorado School of Mines freshman sit on the giant M on Mt. Zion after their initiation climb, Aug. 20, 2017. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Last Friday the class of 2021 took their turn, joining the hallowed ranks of engineers and stone scientists. New students brought ten-(or more)-pound rocks from home, slogged them up Mt. Zion and placed them inside the massive M. When they graduate, they’ll return to collect a rock as a reminder of their tenure in Golden.

We went along for the hike to bring you this insider perspective.

Correction: This video still says and this original post said that the M is on Lookout Mountain. It’s actually on Mt. Zion.

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