Message from the Mountain

October 2026 / Issue # 28

Fattening up for the Winter

The hummingbirds are building up the fat layer which wil help them on their journey to Cabo San Lucas. I hear they enjoy Mai Tais on the beach and participate in beach volleyball daily. At least, that's the rumor. In all seriousness, though, hummingbirds do put on a layer of fat, and in some cases double their body weight.

This can help propel them across the Gulf of America nonstop. Hummingbirds can actually stop without dying; there is photographic evidence of this (see pic). Also, did you know that when hummingbirds sleep, they slow their metabolism down in a temporary dormant state called torpor, so they don't burn up all the fat that they accumulated? I think that is what happens to humans over 50.

I recently discovered that only the Americas have hummingbirds. These birds fly from 20-23 miles per hour and cover 20-23 miles per day. That's a long day. Let's do the math. 20-23 mph divided by 8 hours times three Mai Tais equals a long day. It's just amazing what the little birds can do, weighing in at about the same weight as a nickel. It is suggested that when a hummingbird hovers directly in front of you, it is usually looking for food, checking you out with its strong memory, or representing a spiritual sign of joy and hope. So, either you will become a meal for the little fella, you look like someone it knows (hopefully in a good way), or you need to go pick up a lottery ticket. Either way, these little creatures are fun to watch and listen to.

Maybe not a good idea

By Jeffrey Pryor

According to various medical information, licking a toad can be dangerous to your health, cause a bout of psychedelic trippiness, or make your significant other look better. Either way, choose wisely how you do this. The American toad, like the happy character in the pic, is known for having toxins that will mess you up pretty bad. They are not fond of being licked.

I've never licked a toad, nor have I thought about doing that. I suppose it never occurred to me that it was a good idea, in any way, shape, or form. I sort of just let them be and move on, generally bypassing them. I see some correlation in toads, though. Because toads move slowly and low to the ground, small obstacles like curbs, steps, and roads present massive, life-threatening barriers. This directly parallels how poorly designed infrastructure and lack of physical accessibility restrict the freedom of disabled people. Makes sense, doesn't it?

Toads rely heavily on physical contact with their surroundings. They feel safest when tightly wedged into small, dark spaces (like a burrow or under a rock), where pressure wraps around their bodies. This is highly relatable to individuals on the autism spectrum or those with sensory processing sensitivity, who often utilize deep pressure therapy (like weighted blankets) to regulate an overwhelmed nervous system. Toads are highly sensitive to vibrations and changes in their environment. When overwhelmed, their primary defenses are to freeze, blend into the background, or burrow underground. This closely resembles sensory shutdown, masking, or burnout experienced by neurodivergent individuals when a sensory environment becomes too intense to process.

Some interesting comparisons to make, but I thought it might be relevant. It is our mission to ensure that we create a space at Mobility Mountaint where humans and toads alike can cohabitate. Thanks for reading and supporting us in our effort of Making Nature Accessible.