Have You No Backbone

The aptly named title for this post comes from the name of Maryland's highest location, which actually straddles Maryland and West Virginia. At 3000, 662 ft, it manages to pass the next highest stand-alone Peak in Maryland by about 70 feet. In all honesty, a lot of State high-points I've looked at or much like that, being very close to the next smallest integer but not quite there. By the way around, when I took an adventure to West Virginia, the next part of the trip to get home was to stop here. This little hill in the middle of an intense solar farm; who would have ever guessed?

This time, when we departed from our car, we realized that the tables had turned since West Virginia. Instead of driving up the mountain, we actually had to make and model on track to get to the top of the high point, it was a straight away shot, but about 90% switchbacks the whole time.

But yet, we made it.

After walking through the forest to get to this state High Point, we came to a rather noteworthy finding: no High Point bench, but instead, a sign and a guest book inside a mailbox. On top of the mailbox post was a small stone tower that somebody it started, so I added they headed to the silhouette there was building. I've been for the sign the guestbook to say that I made it to the highest point of Maryland, and also saying it was my third High Point at the time. Surprisingly enough though, there was a fair amount of individuals that let this be there 19th or 20th High Point.

With some fairly okay-ish views, compared to the others.

At this point in the game, I was still novice when I came to constructing plans for tackling problems and getting Solutions. But so, I did have to learn it quick. After planning this trip with my friend Travis, I then went and planned a couple of trips on my own, and used what I've learned to improve my planning abilities for the future. This concluded my overnight trip through West Virginia and Maryland, and I really learned a lot about humility in the way people live their lives. This is specially came when we drove 7 miles through private property because there was no maintenance Road that we could have otherwise taken to get from one state Highpoint to the other. We saw broken down Shacks that people had been presumably living in for a long time. And, for the first time being outside of Maryland and Pennsylvania, we saw wine being sold in a gas station, just before our home States finally changed their liquor laws. And, we also learned that we needed to hike on treadmills a whole lot more before we were to tackle bigger high points such as Ranier, Katahdin, Marcy, and eventually, Denali.

Why I Hike

I've talked about travel. I've talked about housing; I've talked about a lot of different places I've been. But now, even more so than when I did my Boy Scout post, I feel obligated to make a post describing the top 5 reasons why I hike. Hiking, or glorified trail walking, is an activity that used to be essential for survival. With modern technology and conveniences, is become a long-lost art to too many people. However, there are still others amongst us who enjoy the act of hiking. Here is why I do it.

1) You are constantly experiencing new environments.

When you are out there hiking, you're constantly being exposed to many different types of terrain at any given point in time. It really challenges your physical and mental limits. Not only have that, but everybody’s body reacts differently to different climates and environments. When you're out in wilderness, anything can happen, and it teaches you to be engaging in your surroundings and to be completely present in whatever task you are doing.

2) It keeps you in shape.

This obviously depends on the frequency of what you go hiking, but in general, let it be known that it is a great cardiovascular activity. Even for the infrequent hiker, it is still a good break from utilizing the treadmill, jogging the neighborhood, or of course, from being a couch potato. You really learned to utilize every muscle in your body to its Advantage as you scale steep terrains, go for miles on end without stopping, and put yourself at the mercy of Mother Nature. And eventually, with perseverance and practice, you might just become like the guy that I saw sprinting up and down the Shenandoah mountain range, trail running an average of 10 miles every day.

3) You get away from Modern conveniences.

It is the 21st century. We currently live in a world marred by technology that lives around every single corner. Regardless of creed, personal agenda, or any other opinion, it is generally agreeable that too much technology can be detrimental to one's well-being. After all, none of our settlers had iPods or cell phones. Although this deficit of Technology may be startling to some, two others, it is sacred. You get to experience life without modern conveniences, which in and of itself can teach people if thankfulness for all of life's little things that otherwise wouldn't be mentioned.

4) You get a huge system detox.

Having been around patients on concentrated oxygen through nasal cannula, I can firmly attached that nothing beats Fresh Air pump to straight from the trees and the clouds. You also get a huge vitamin D boost, and read your bodies of impurities while sweating out toxins on the trail. Take Along some trail mix filled with antioxidant berries, pack some leafy greens, drink a cup of green tea, and you've got it made.

5) You will never see these sites or meet these people hiding inside your house.

I have met so many wonderful people just by saying hello on the hiking trail or in a Pit Stop Restaurant. You’ll never know what you’ll find, and when you might find it.

This is a short list, but a comprehensive one. So what are you waiting for? Strap on your boots and hit the dirt highway!

Why I (Might) Have Wanderlust

Wanderlust is marked by an intense curiosity for the world around you. While some may see it as a setback to being an average human being, others to see it as a blessing. I am amongst those who consider it to be a blessing. In this post, I'm going to try and nail down why I, as well as some of you, maybe having these feelings.

1) Genetics.

The DRD4-7R gene that is present in some of us is associated with curiosity and restlessness, so there could very well be a genetic component to my curiosity about the world around me. I've always known myself to be a curious individual as well, so nothing has changed in that regard. If anything, the desires to explore and understand this world have grown stronger.

2) Boredom.

Chances are, like me, you also came from a small town. In that small town, there was probably very little to do besides hang out with the same three people and play video games. It probably got tiring after a while, seeing the same sites over and over again, seeing the same people and places over and over again, sleeping in the same bed and relaxing on the same couch day in and day out. You realize that there's much more to this world, and so you want to go out and see it. The nine-to-five Daily Grind is a very unappealing subject to you, and you want to go out and see if there's other ways to make ends meet.

3) Humans are nomadic creatures.

Assessing the human race from a historical and anthropological perspective, our genus started out largely as nomadic people, moving to where the shelter and food were. Overtime, it's also turned into leisure, and seeing new sights. It is in our nature to yearn for more, as we are social creatures by Nature, and Travelers by nurture.

4) An end to Samsara.

This is a Sanskrit term used to denote a worldly wandering caused by suffering and the weariness of life's issues that are ultimately unimportant, such as greed and violence. The more I travel, the freer I feel, and the closer to myself I become. by looking at another's suffering, it makes me rationalize my own, take a step back, and assess the world around me from a different lens.

5) Life is short, and nothing is permanent.

people attempt to give their life permanence and directive by purchasing material goods and possessions, focusing more on what they have accrued rather than the places they have seen and things they have done. I fall more into the latter category, as I spend my money on places to go and things to see and things to experience, much more so than a new car or a new jacket or a new video game console. Those will be here for when I return home one day, or for when I find new home. But one thing is for sure, since we don't keep anything of ours after we expire, I much rather spend the money on a memory than an item.

6) Escapism is essential to survival.

when we leave home for a trip, we acknowledge the fact that we are leaving home and we are leaving our comfort zone. Yeah, we are taking our baggage, or complications, our problems, with us. Everybody has suffering, and escaping one location and embracing another is one way to reassess the suffering from a different perspective. We travel because we hope our external environment and change our internal environment. we are always looking for a reason to get up and go.

And so, these are just a few detailed reasons as to why I refuse to sit still for too long. This is why I whenever somebody I know from Facebook talks to me and says boy have you been traveling a lot, I can't help but grin and say yes, but not enough. I am proud of my travels, as they set me apart from the status quo. But I am not proud of myself, because there's so much more that I can be doing to travel, and I'm just waiting for those days to happen upon me.

I tell myself I want to settle by the time I'm 30 and start a family, but at the same time, who knows? Maybe that will just be another decade of my life and which I will be pulled in another direction to see more and do more things. Truly, time will tell.

Why I Became a Content Creator

When I was finished with my undergraduate studies, I realized that I needed a new outlet. Something to alleviate stress and anxiety. A break from the normal 9 to 5 job. So that's when I decided to become a content creator.

But just like every young and aspiring content creator, I had no idea what kind of content I wanted to create. After all, there are more up-and-coming YouTubers getting discovered every single day, and more and more blogs launching like wildfire. Every. Single. Day. I didn't know where to start, where to begin. I was overwhelmed. But then it suddenly dawned on me, that I had a passion that I was serious about. One That I could dump all of my time and energy into.

And I was in the middle of Georgia, looking at the tallest mountain in the state. And I said to myself, I'm going to be at the top of that. and then, I can conquer anything.

The View that inspired Big World Small Feet.

Traveling, culture, and hiking. I realized I was one of the most and I was damn proud of it. and so, I realized that I wanted to see the world and share its Beauty with everybody.

I wanted to see this Big World, even though comparatively, I had two very Small Feet. I was just one speck of carbon and hydrogen amidst a vast ocean of seven billion others dispersed over twenty four and a half thousand square miles. 

If I laid down upon the earths 20.9 million feet, With myself being 5 foot and 7 inches tall, I would only take up about 0.0000003% of its space. And to think that this planet upon which we stand is only one out of an entire universe.

Cherry Springs: Another awe-inspiring place I've visited. Photo Credits go to Dark Sky.

And so, the rush inspired me; that day, and every day. I wanted to feel the cold light of day again. So 

feel the Sunshine upon my skin. I know that I must drive, get out of the house, make myself useful.

However, I don't find any usefulness and going to bars or clubs or hitting the city. That isn't much my crowd. I'd much rather be found on the road, discovering new places, meeting new people in nature.

But of course, it's different for everybody. Whereas not everybody finds enjoyment from the mountains, not everybody finds enjoyment from the beaches. You just have to find what works for you.

I will be posting a lot of new material in the next few days, so don't miss it. Just as well, don't forget to check out my stores and subscribe.

Coping With Jet Lag

Jet lag is absolutely horrible sensation for travelers to have to go through. Nearly any time there is a gap in time zones, jet lag will be experienced. typically, you will take one full day to recover from each timezone skip. So if you skip five time zones going from Washington DC to London, then it will take 5 days to completely recover. Nothing can all set or speed up the time that it takes two reactivate your circadian rhythm, but here are a few things that help.

If this is about to be your view for a few hours, read ahead!

1) Stay busy.

Although this should be intuitive, you will almost never get synced up with your new schedule in your new time zone if you decide to sleep anytime before a regular bedtime hour. Yes, you may be missing 5 or 10 hours, but you essentially have to pull an all-nighter to get your body set to the new schedule. This means no daytime napping - many make that mistake and end up feeling worse afterwards.

A little water and starch goes a long way.

2) Eat and drink a little bit more than usual.

Believe it or not, traveling across time zones takes a huge toll on the body, and the effects can be felt sometimes throughout the entire duration of a trip. You've got that time to take care of yourself. To make sure your body can meet the demands of hopping time zones, whether it is a 3 hour flight or a 20-hour flight, you should increase your water and calorie intake by 20% in comparison with what it normally is during the hours of travel. So if your daily fluid intake is 5 cups of water, include one extra cup of water. Your body and mind will thank you.

3) Adjust your sleep schedule, and take advantage of downtime.

This is where the neck pillow, sleep mask, and earbuds come in handy. When hopping time zones, you need to immediately start adjusting to your destinations new sleep schedule. Go to bed when you normally do, start your day when you normally do. It might feel weird to take a nap on the plane, but that extra hour of sleep you get now will prevent you from feeling like dirt later. since you won't be sleeping or taking a nap during the day (as mentioned earlier), you need to force yourself to try and rest now while you have the time. It is easier said than done for some, but if you have a 7 hour flight ahead of you, you can easily spend the part over the ocean sleeping. As there won't be much to see out the window or do anyhow. The in flight services on some flights such as movies and games may be tempting, but enjoy them sparingly and take advantage of the time you get.

The many faces of jet lag.

4) Get your exercise!

It doesn't have to be intensive workouts like dropping down and giving 20, but get up and move around on the flight. Keep your body active. The longer you sit, the more you will feel the effects. Do some stretching, take a brisk walk around the cabin, or do some seated chair exercises. A few good suggestions for exercises can be found here.

5) Try melatonin and light therapy.

These are two simple things that can offer amazing benefits to resetting the Circadian rhythm. Your body releases this hormone anyhow, so giving it a little boost may help you to reset your sleep cycle. Light therapy can be used to force the brain into being alert when it otherwise normally wouldn't due to the Circadian rhythm having not been reset yet.

6) When you do consume, consume responsibly.

You should never eat a fatty or high-carb diet before going to sleep, even if it is a plane nap. You also should not drink coffee or alcohol before going to bed. This will disrupt your sleep cycle and will counteract trying to adjust to the new time zone. Try to remain to your typical eating habit pattern and eat responsibly.

A moderate amount of calories go a long way, and may even be a part of your flight!

7) Minimize distractions.

When it is time to sleep, turn the phone off, and turn the television off. Get yourself in the zone to sleep, and start winding down 2 hours beforehand. Your body will thank you later, whether or not you do this during or after travel. 

hopefully these tips help you as much as I have helped me. Travel responsibly, and enjoy the process.

Bon voyage! Arrivederci!

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Choosing the Right Hike For You

Everybody goes hiking for different reasons. Some people go for the views they receive at the end of the hike, some guys for the exercise; others go because it gets them out and about. Some people just go because they want a family activity and they have identified that they enjoy nature. The reasons vary from person to person, but there are a few things to bear in mind when selecting a destination.

Defining a hike.

Not only is it a figure of speech (i.e. wow, that’s a hike!) to infer something that is quite some distance away, but it also has its own Merriam-Webster and Oxford dictionary definition. Different people view it in different ways, but it is generally referred to as being a large span of distance that is walk with intention. To many people, it is also used as a figure speech to mean anything that is outside the normal drivable distance. Defining what a true hike means to you as important because you will be able to go from there I decided where you want to go exactly. To quote Merriam Webster, a hike is “to rise up; especially to work upward”. As per Oxford, it is ”a long walk or walking tour”. So now, it’s time to dig into the nitty gritty details of choosing the right style of hike for you.

1) Who is coming with me?

When you establish this, hopefully it is easy to see what you are going to do from there. For instance, you probably wouldn't take your small child or infant hiking for 5 mi uphill. And personally, you and your stern hiking buddy going on a very easy trail would be too boring. As such, you must assess the skill levels and hiking competency of everybody in your hiking group, and it comes down to a few factors; previous hiking experience, level of physical fitness, their willingness to explore, how old they are, and any other underlying health complications.

Normally these things all flow in equilibrium, being with somebody who is older is usually more experienced with hiking and occasionally more physically fit. However, this might not always be the case. Good examples are Jordan Romero, who summited Kilimanjaro at age nine and Everest at age thirteen, or perhaps a couch potato who is willing to explore but not much else (and usually via the discovery channel). That being said, you can start to look at the next item of mention.

2) How much of a challenge do you want to be in for?

This kind of ties in with the other part of this post talking about the Yosemite grading system, but it deserves a mention as well. Are you in your group of people looking for a stroll in the park? Or are you looking to have a challenging hike ahead of you? This factor plays a lot into your physical fitness level, so choose wisely. What might be good for one person may not be for the next person, so it is important to know you and your groupmate’s limitations before you try anything too crazy.

3) How far are you willing to travel?

Unfortunately, a lot of hikes I attempt are dictated strictly on how far away they are. Or, inversely, they're dictated by how long the trail is. If there since we're not an issue, I would be all over the United States hiking right now. Sadly, that is not the case though. Another part of hiking is deciding how far you want to travel to reach the trail, and how far the purported destination is from the trailhead on the trail. Some things you need to plan out an entire day for, others can be done in a quiet afternoon. Either way around, make sure to make your decision responsibly and considering your energy levels. And whatever you do, make sure to bring trail mix and some sort of snack and beverage.

4) Trail Rating.

Next, you must bear in mind the rating of the trail itself. Just as I mentioned earlier, The Yosemite Decimal System was incepted for this reason. It breaks down hiking into 5 sections, as follows:

Class 1: Easy hiking with minimal elevation gain and few obstacles

Class 2: More difficult hiking, some of which may be off-trail, and may require putting your hands down for balance at times.

Class 3: Rock scrambling and/or un-roped climbing.

Class 4: Climbing with a rope and lateral ascension at parts.

Class 5: Technical climbing, mountaineering, ice picking, etc.

So not only do you have it broken down by difficulty and duration necessary for the height, but this YDS breaks it down further into things that you will encounter along the trail. Different difficulties work for different people, but I take it most people reading my blog will stay with a 3 or below, like myself. Class 5 would be something like climbing K2 with ice picks and crampons. Class 4 would be something on par with the Seven Summits and needing to climb them with poles and ropes. And then, if kind of goes downhill from there. Hah! No pun intended. Pick your hike based on the rating you think you can tolerate the best.

5) Do you like your lungs?

If the answer is yes, then stick to altitudes that are lower in hiking, particularly below 8000 feet. If the answer is no, and you feel as though you can handle altitude sickness well, then choose a hike that is above 8000. However, be aware of elevation related sicknesses and physical conditions that can occur in your body. Lake elevation related hypoxia, air bubbles potentially forming above 15000 ft, and so on. You don't need to let it scare you away from a really good hike, but it is something you definitely should be aware of.

6) What scenery are you after?

The last notion that is worth mentioning is that of scenery. There are a lot of great hikes with good scenery, although a lot of them are short. And then inversely, there are a lot of really hard ones. You need to identify what balance is right and make your judgment as such. It would also be a good idea to look at reviews and pictures from other hikers online, as it will give you a better indicator as to what the heck would be like. My blog is one of many places and what you can do just that.

I hope this post provided some insight to how you plan on choosing your next hike. Now get out there, go hiking, and enjoy yourself. You have nothing to lose and everything (and a lot of altitude) to gain!

Check out my Apparel Store at https://teespring.com/big-world-small-feet for apparel!

Wake-Up Smoothie!

For another beautiful addition to my blog, I would like to share a recipe that I sometimes use that is a great pick-me-up for mornings on the go or for a pre-workout boost. This recipe has most of the major food groups in it, and it contains a great boost of macronutrients as well. When I know I'm going to be traveling, I will make little Ziploc bags with all of my ingredients in them, and double bag it to prevent any leakage from occurring in my lunchbox (as I throw it around in my car quite often) . If I know I have a long day ahead of me, I will prepare a smoothie the night before and refrigerate it in my thermos.

If you feel really creative, you can even try making a fermented or all-natural version using products from Cultures for Health! You can even make your own Yogurt using this Yogurt starter in your kitchen!

So, without further ado, your lean, green, vegan machine!

Example of what your smoothie could look like. Photo Credits go to Tasha.

Wake-Me-Up Smoothie

Makes one huge serving

1 tbsp protein powder (I use pea protein)

1-2 tsp peanut or cashew butter

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup frozen blueberries

1/2 cup strawberries

1/2 banana

3/4 cup kale

1/2 cup almond milk

1/4 cup coconut or almond "yogurt"

1 Tbsp hemp seeds (optional)

1 tablespoon chia seeds (optional)

1/3 cup rolled oats (optional)

Steps:

1) Pull out and thaw your ingredients.

2) Unsheathe the food processor.

3) Put everything in the food processor and let'er rip.

4) Enjoy breakfast on the go!

The Lake Laid Blue...

In Germany, in the black forest,  there is a Scenic Lake where are all of the locals go to hang out. It is called Lake Titisee. Beside this lake, which is actually a small amusement park and Museum, there was an old dugout-style cart coaster that took us down the Mountainside. It was here that we also got to try the Black Forest Cherry Cake for the first time, one of the local favorite desserts. This chocolate torte is made with cherries, Cherry schnapps, and lots of love. My buddy Adrian ordered a slice in German, and I followed suit in English. Between this and the food stalls in the Open Air Market, it was easily some of the best food I've ever had.

Photo Credits go to Black Forest Travel.

After going down the roller coaster a couple times, brakes completely off and all, we went to another Open Air Museum. It was here that they found out that Germans grow pot in the countryside, as they had a small exhibit to show this. They also grew hibiscus, salvia, barley, corn, and a few other crops that I can't remember the names of at this moment in time. Naturally, one of my stoner friends picked off a couple of leaves from the pot plant and started munching on them. Although they would come to have no effect, it was very gutsy.

In this open air and open our Museum, we saw exhibits of blacksmith forges, traditional German houses and lifestyle, and most importantly, a teacup. This was no ordinary teacup, is it was big enough to fit 4 people into it, and sitting on the ground stationary. In the center was a wheel, which you and your friends could use to make the teacup spin around and around. We ended up getting the cup going at least 60 miles per hour, and all of us lead our heads out and it times to make it go faster. This just resulted in us screaming our lungs off and getting dizzy, and our captain almost throwing up everywhere. Regardless, it was hilarious.

Aerial view of the museum. (Credits go to Their Website.

Before getting ready to leave the countryside of Germany, we spent a little bit of time sightseeing in a small town, interacting with the locals and whatever broken languages we could speak, and enjoyed an all you can eat schnitzel noodle Buffet. This was also where our bus driver parallel parked a bus between a tight squeeze of two cars, perfectly, and in one attempt. This is where I finally got to speak with him and tell him how incredible he was. All he said was this; "you guys perform the good music for me, I'll take you wherever you need to go". Oh Jan, you're the true MVP!

Our time in Germany finally came to an end, and we laid our eyes to rest on the nunnery for the last time. We're going to be getting up early tomorrow for a long stretch of traveling - Six hours of it.