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Take a short drive past Hyde Park on Boise’s North End, right up 13th Street and on the right hand side at the corner of Heron Street you’ll find Camel’s Back Park. The park itself has what you would expect. There is a wonderful lawn, tennis courts, a sand volleyball court, a playground, and even an outdoor adult "gym" donated by Bodybuilding.com. more The park is also the gateway —or perhaps stairway— to the Camel’s Back and Hulls Gulch Reserves, which, ultimately, provide access to hundreds of miles of trails for walking, hiking, or biking. Taken together the Camel’s Back and Hulls Gulch Reserves comprise more than 350 acres of land in Boise. Camel’s Back became a park and reserve in the 1930s. The adjacent Hulls Gulch Reserve was established as part of a citizen-driven effort in the 1990s. The view from a ridge in Hulls Gulch looking back toward Boise, Idaho A Short Hike Or Ride The reserves contain plenty of trails for day hikes and mountain biking. For example, there is the 1.6-mile Camel’s Back Trails Loop. It has a few climbs and offers a great view of Boise, but it is easy enough for most families, even one’s with relatively small children. For a longer hike or ride consider taking the Camel’s Back Trail north to the Red Fox Trail #36. From there make your way northeast along a ridge. You will, again, be able to enjoy great views of both Boise and the interior of Hulls Gulch. Before long, you’ll cross the 8th Street Extension and catch #39A the Kestrel Trail following it southeast to a “Y” intersection. Here you will choose the right fork and start heading back toward Camel’s Back Park on the Owl’s Roost Trail #37. You’ll cross the 8th Street Extension a second time, transferring to the GoldFinch Trail #35 as you finish a basic loop. The journey will be a few miles, depending on how much you meander. Miles Of Trails The Camel’s Back and Hull Gulch Reserves also connect to some of the 180 miles of Ridge to Rivers trail system in the foothills, making it possible to travel as far as Shafer Butte to the northeast. Thus, there is plenty of adventure within reach.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom says future vehicles sold in California must be emission-free. The state of California will ban new, gas-powered vehicles beginning in 2035, setting in motion changes to the automotive industry that could impact folks in Idaho and around the country. On September 23, 2020, California Governor Gavin Newsom issued an executive order to require all new cars and trucks sold in the state to be "zero emission" by 2035. Effectively, giving automobile makers worldwide just 15 years to transition to electric vehicles. more Whether one agrees with Governor Newsom or not, his motivation is clear. "This is the most impactful step our state can take to fight climate change,” said Governor Newsom. “For too many decades, we have allowed cars to pollute the air that our children and families breathe. Californians shouldn’t have to worry if our cars are giving our kids asthma. Our cars shouldn’t make wildfires worse –and create more days filled with smoky air. Cars shouldn’t melt glaciers or raise sea levels threatening our cherished beaches and coastlines." California Has Influence Idaho is Maverick Car Company’s home, and, frankly, for many in our state California can feel like it is a long way away, but California has influence, and Governor Newsom’s executive order will almost certainly impact vehicle buying in Idaho over the next decade and a half. Consider these two facts. No. 1: California —all by itself— is the fifth largest economy in the world. In 2019, the United States, as a whole, had the largest economy in the world with a nominal gross domestic product (GDP) of $21.44 trillion, according to Investopedia, followed by China, Japan, and Germany. 2019 Nominal GDP in Trillions United States $21.44 China $14.14 Japan $5.15 Germany $3.86 California $3.2 The State of California had a nominal GDP of $3.2 trillion in 2019, making it a larger economy than India, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Brazil, Canada, and Russia. In fact, California’s nominal GDP is roughly the same size as Canada and Russia combined. No. 2: Californians Own a Lot of Cars As The Wall Street Journal pointed out, Californians had about 11 percent of all cars and trucks registered in the United States. That means that just more than one out of every ten cars or trucks in the total United States, are in California. Car Makers May Be Ready Given the size of California’s economy and the percentage of cars and trucks its residents own, auto manufacturers are certainly going to pay attention to Governor Newsom’s order. In fact, according to The Wall Street Journal, "a spokesman for Ford Motor Co. said: ‘We agree with Gov. Newsom that it is time to take urgent action to address climate change....Progress requires public-private partnerships, smart infrastructure and key resources that encourage consumers to invest in electrified products.’" How It Will Impact Idaho From the perspective of September 2020, exactly how this will impact car or truck buying in Idaho is not perfectly clear, but it may be enough to point out that California’s ban on gas-powered vehicles, is likely to extend to the entire country in its effect. This might be good news, since electric vehicles can be more performant than their gasoline-powered counterparts. For example, it is common for electric trucks to have more torque than gas or diesel trucks, at least on paper.

Legendary racer Bruce McLaren in his comfort zone: behind the wheel of a fast car. Bruce McLaren was only 32 years old when he died on a test track in England on June 2, 1970. From our perspective, now 50 years later, it may seem hard to believe that someone so relatively young, could have such a significant impact on the automobile industry. more Only McLaren’s family and close friends are qualified to describe just what McLaren was like as a person, but auto racing fans and car aficionados have, over the last half-century, built up something of a myth around the man. And for them, Bruce McLaren represented some of the automobile industry’s best and most important traits. Ingenuity Although McLaren was a celebrated race car driver, some might argue that his greatest success was as a race car constructor or builder. “In the early days of McLaren sports cars, McLaren was testing and as he drove out of the pits, he noticed the fuel filler access door was flapping up and down as he drove,” a Wikipedia article reported. “The current aerodynamic thinking was that it should have been pressed more firmly in place as the speed of the car increased. Instead, it bounced more vigorously as the speed increased. Instantly, his frustration at the sloppy work changed and he had an insight. Stopping in the pits, he grabbed a pair of shears and started cutting the bodywork away behind the radiator. Climbing back in the car, he immediately began turning lap times faster than before.” “I was first angry that the filler door hadn't been properly closed,” McLaren explained, “but then I began to wonder why it wasn't being pressed down by the airflow. The only answer was that there had to be a source of higher pressure air under it than over it.” This single insight changed the design of McLaren’s cars, producing what some called nostrils, which lead to much better airflow. It was a single and well-known example of McLaren’s ingenuity. Ingenuity has been vital in the automotive industry. It is, perhaps, ingenuity that started the industry. And it is ingenuity that fuels the industry’s insatiable appetite for innovation and improvement. Resilience “Bruce’s driving had a tenacity to it, and he exhibited an almost voracious appetite for pressure, his most memorable results coming with his back against the wall,” wrote Stephen Dobie in an article commemorating the 50th anniversary of McLaren’s death. “Relegation down the grid by mechanical issue or the petty decree of the stewards was the kick up the arse that led to numerous podiums. His taste for victory against adversity seemed rooted in his medical struggles as a child; fears ‘he may never walk again’ quickly gave way to a glittering racing career in some of the most physically tough cars to drive. He was slight, at five foot five, with one leg shorter than the other. But so long as the pedal box was adjusted to suit, it never once got in his way.” McLaren was not the sort to give up. He was resilient, and resilience is yet another of the automotive industry’s best traits. Throughout its history war, weather, and even pandemics have not been able to stop the automotive industry and improving and growing. In fact, the pressure, if you will, probably makes the industry better. Adventure McLaren was a race car driver after all. He most certainly exhibited a love of adventure, thrill, and speed. Adventure is a big part of the car business. You might not think about it when you’re shopping for a minivan or even an SUV to haul the family around town, but your car or truck is really the gateway to your lifestyle. It is the vehicle, in a very real sense, that takes you toward your life adventures. If you are reading this on June 2 — or any time really — take a moment to remember one of the automotive industry’s legends, Bruce McLaren, because he represented some of the best things about the industry.

Fall, or "shoulder season," can be a great time to backpack if conditions permit. With peak hiking season over, fall backpackers can enjoy more solitary time out on the trails. But with colder weather comes the need to modify a gear list so those trail experiences don’t end up being miserable, or worse. more Planning Ahead Chris Lundy has owned and operated Sawtooth Mountain Guides in Stanley, Idaho, for eight years. He knows the importance of preparing adequately for a trip, especially during fall, or what backpackers call the "shoulder season." "I’d check the weather forecast frequently," he said. "You can end up in conditions where it’s 30 degrees and half rain and snow." Lundy said in those conditions, it’s difficult to stay dry and even more difficult to dry off once wet. "It can be very dangerous," he said. Poor planning can result in hypothermia, or worse. If possible, hike with a partner and be sure to leave detailed information about your travel route and when you’ll be returning. Clothing Staying comfortable on the trail requires the right clothing for colder weather conditions. The saying in Idaho goes, "If you don’t like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change." That being said, fall backpackers should pack breathable, lightweight clothing for those October days full of sunshine, and also pack waterproof outerwear and a wool or synthetic clothing to stave off the cold. Wool socks, insulated waterproof gloves, and a warm beanie can make all the difference when the weather turns frosty. These items can also be worn at night for extra warmth. Chris Thornton with Boise Gear Collective has spent over a decade backpacking Idaho’s trails. He recommends bringing along a well-insulated coat for the lower temps. "A big puffy down jacket works well," he said. Synthetic fabrics always trump natural fibers when backpacking in hot and cold weather. Fibers —like cotton— absorb moisture while synthetic fibres wick moisture and keep the body dry. Clothing drenched with sweat lowers core body temperature and acts as an excellent host for smelly bacteria. Since higher elevations can often experience rain, it’s essential to pack boot waterproof boots. With fall days shorter than in the summer months, Thornton said, having enough lighting for the trip is crucial. "You have to remember that you’ll be spending 12 plus hours in the dark, so bring plenty of lighting and some activities for the nighttime," he said. Packing warm clothing and extra lighting is essential for backpacking during fall. Sleeping Gear A night of rest after a satisfying day on the trail can quickly turn into a nightmare if you don’t pack cold-rated sleeping gear. Thornton recommends packing extra insulation in the form of a sleeping bag liner. "It doesn’t weigh a lot and it keeps you warm," he said. "It also keeps your bag clean." Packing a sleeping bag with a lower-limit temperature rating is also a must. When fall backpacking, bring a cold weather bag rated to 20 degrees fahrenheit and below. An insulated sleeping pad is an essential item as it helps hikers retain body heat throughout the night. Closed-cell foam pads are ideal as they are extremely lightweight and can be placed under or above a sleeping pad to protect against heat transfer to the cold ground. Packing a sleeping bag with a lower-limit temperature rating is also a must. When fall backpacking, bring a cold weather bag rated to 20 degrees Fahrenheit and below. Tent When selecting a tent, a three-season backpacking tent will do. Make sure the tent stakes well and is reasonably wind resistant. Also, placing your tent near a windbreak takes the stress off of your tent. Reducing the amount of open space in your tent helps with heat insulation, so share a tent with your hiking partner and pack your gear inside at night. Backpacker’s will also tape a mylar, or emergency blanket to the roof of their tent for extra insulation. This step should be avoided if condensation regularly forms in a tent overnight, as extra moisture reduces the effectiveness of insulated gear and makes for a miserable trip. Stainless Steel Water Bottle It goes without saying that you’ll be bringing a small stove and cooking supplies to keep you fed out in mother nature, but packing a stainless steel water bottle keeps you hydrated and serves as an excellent heat source. Adding boiling water to a stainless steel bottle and placing it near your core provides a comforting heat source when curled up in your bag at night. Don’t forget a bottle insulator, too. It helps maintain the temperature of coffee, tea, or soups and prevents your water from freezing at night. Freezing water not only drops body temperature, it makes hydration more difficult. Packing a reusable straw can help reduce the chance that you’ll spill water on your gear in the tent at night when you go for a drink. When meal planning, be sure to pack food with a high-calorie density since colder weather requires your body to consume more fuel to stay warm. If you’re particularly prone to the cold, pack some chemical hand/toe warmers. These are easy to use and last several hours. Electronics Storage Electronics can be damaged and batteries drain when exposed to low temperatures. To protect your gear, store it in the end of your sleeping bag or in a well-insulated area of your pack. Camera equipment with dead batteries is a bummer, but a GPS locator beacon with a dead battery can be deadly. Electronics have an ideal operating temperature range, so be sure to check the manufacturer’s advice. If you’re new to making a backpacking gear list, check out the American Hiking Society’s " Ten Essentials of Hiking."