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A Minimalist Mindset Two hikers take on the Florida Trail—barefoot b y C a r o l B a d a r a c c o P a d g e t t
Devin Black and David Bulger
F irst, they ate. Then they slept. And finally, they reflected. These are the things hikers and friends David Bulger and Devin Black did once they completed an 1,100-mile, two-month trek of the Florida Trail at the end of February 2022. The roughly 1,300-mile trail—one of 11 National Scenic Trails in the U.S.—meanders through the state from the Big Cypress National Preserve next to Ever- glades National Park to Fort Pickens at Gulf Islands Na- tional Seashore at Pensacola Beach, Florida. The purpose of Bulger and Black’s journey was to raise awareness and money for Hike for Mental Health, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Friendswood, Texas, that’s dedicated to helping people who’re suffering with mental illness. Bulger, a U.S. military veteran who has lived in Panama City Beach since he was a child, along with Black, a henna artist at a boutique in Seaside and a Santa Rosa Beach resident, are friends and fellow outdoor enthusiasts. Banding together around the rallying cause of men- tal health awareness and the natural healing that occurs with time spent in the outdoors, Black and Bulger decid- ed to tackle the challenge of their Florida Trail hike and to simply see where it would lead. In addition, Bulger included an element into their trek that he is personally passionate about: going barefoot. “David was always the barefoot enthusiast,” Black states. “I wasn’t sure it was something I was willing to do, but decided… why not?” The military veteran has reasons for his penchant for going barefoot in life. “I’ve experienced the physical difficulties of wearing steel toe boots continuously for
The duo’s first 40 miles proved to be an immediate challenge. “The insight you receive on mental health as a whole on a long distance backpacking trip is one thing,” Black notes. “To experience it barefoot was like pushing it to the extreme.” Then she adds, “To be more connected to the Earth and to be mindful with every step, as you experience your own inner turmoil coming to the surface, is very psychedelic to say the least.” And, she admits, after 400 miles she put her shoes back on. For Bulger, though, the whole barefoot experience was cathartic. “The military was a strong kick-start for the pursued betterment of my own mental health,” he says. “Returning to simple methods, such as eating healthier, stretching, getting out into nature (and of course, going barefoot more often) led me to a desire to share these tools with others—the simple, yet effective tools we’ve always had. This is the ultimate takeaway.” Despite the challenges of things like cypress nubs, mud, limestone rocks, and leeches, “the sweet rewarding encounters with animals and nature,” made the difficulties more bearable for Black. “I often think back to all of those sunrises and sunsets, and am filled with awe and gratitude that I got to experience such magic.” For Bulger, even the extremes came with their re- wards. “Snakes, bore, bear, big cats, leeches, spiders, and ticks and mosquitoes were regular concerns. As were the lightning storms, sun-drenched days, and icy nights. But with the struggle and fear comes balance. Locking eyes with a grazing deer through the morning mist… these moments feel more precious after a bit of suffering!” He closes, “Developing minimalism as a mindset and way of life can do wonders to show you, you have everything you need to thrive.”
Returning to simple methods, such as eating healthier, stretching, getting out into nature (and of course, going barefoot more often) led me to a desire to share these tools with others— the simple, yet effective tools we’ve always had.
years,” he says. “And after exiting the military and begin- ning to exercise and live barefoot more often, I was bless- ed by an understanding of how much healthier most of us are without regular [footwear].” For Bulger, the subtleties of strength, balance, and awareness of his immediate surroundings—things that can be experienced best when barefoot—directly correlate to improved mental health. Even though the Florida Trail lacks obstacles like mountain ranges and snow that test a person’s mettle, it does present considerable challenges like vast wetlands, thick pine forests, white sand beaches, and endless stretches of rocks and road walks, or portions of trail that are paved.
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