Despite the crisp air, a clean-cut man takes long strides along Route 45, surrounded by a vast expanse of Centre County's shriveled cornfields and candle-lit farmhouses.

He walks with a purpose.

His name -- or, at least, his alias -- is "Fellow Human," the name he's used since Dec. 22, the day he set off from the World Trade Center in New York City to begin his trek across the country.

"It's open-ended," he says about his final destination. "West Coast for sure."

Even though his message is a conversation between himself and individuals, the message in itself is broad and complex. On his Web site, mindsmaymeet.org, he explains that the main goal of his travels is to challenge people to discover absolute truths that lie within each individual -- a modern-day Emerson or Thoreau.

He maps out his next route every couple of days -- whenever he comes across a library. By late Saturday afternoon, he has made it through the Village of Woodward on Route 45 just off of 322 East, about a 45-minute drive from downtown State College.

"The idea is I'm trying to start a conversation," he says as he continues along the road with stick-straight posture. "No matter [what] you have to say, you have to do something sensational."

"Fellow Human" said he thought about communicating his message through music but decided the best way to start up a conversation was to reach individuals directly -- by walking.

"I think I've raised some eyebrows ... caused some people to think," he says.

Earlier a van stopped on the side of the road and a young man hopped out to greet the "Fellow Human." A young woman poked her head out the van's window to take a picture of the man bundled in winter gear and adorned with brightly colored signs reading "WALKING COAST TO COAST TALKING ABOUT US."

"We all want to be loved, all want respect, all want control," he says as walks alongside the road. "We are largely a society of loners dependent on the law, but we don't put a lot back in society."

However, there are too many distractions, such as the desire to acquire wealth and material goods, and individuals are unable to discover the universal truths of being human -- a common trait shared by all, he says.

Since "Fellow Human" couldn't celebrate Christmas with his family last year, he wants to eventually meet up with them to celebrate the holiday this year.

And that's about all the man from the Midwest says about his personal life. He doesn't say much about himself, just speaks volumes about his message.

Although "Fellow Human" says his message is not political, he speaks out against U.S. foreign policy and how the United States has been handling its relations overseas, he says.

"That's why there's a whole bunch of people pissed off at us," he says, adding that he wants to gain support from not just individuals, but politicians to make a change.

"Fellow Human" says the change should begin in the way people are educated.

He explains that children should start doing volunteer work and "role play" what it's like to be in someone else's shoes.

"We can all personally evolve," he says. "I think it's in all of us."

He explains that he's only making suggestions to spark dialogue among individuals.

As the sun begins to dip in the winter sky, "Fellow Human" takes a couple more strides and then pauses at the top of a hill. He'll retire soon somewhere in the woods for the night when it grows darker.

Tomorrow will be another day, in which "Fellow Human" will walk his daily 12 miles across the country to spread his message.

"It's not about me at all. There's only us," he says. "This about you, about them, about him -- everybody."