while this invention may be embodied in many different forms , there are described in detail herein specific preferred embodiments of the invention . this description is an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the particular embodiments illustrated . in fig1 , an inventive embodiment of the ground breaking device 10 is shown . the device as shown has a shaft 20 and stepping members 30 . the shaft 20 has a proximal end with a widened head 35 and a pointed distal end 40 . the shaft 20 can be of varying lengths ; the shaft of the fig1 embodiment is shorter than that of the embodiment of fig2 . the widened head is designed for use with a sledge hammer or other striking implement . this feature can help to break through rocks or concrete or the like . though shown in the figures , the widened head 35 is not present in some embodiments . though two stepping members 30 are shown , in some embodiments only a single stepping member is present . three or more stepping members are also considered . when the device is being used and is partially embedded in the ground being able to apply force from a different direction via multiple stepping members about the shaft can in some instances improve functionality . in some embodiments the stepping members can be folded up along the shaft when those stepping members are not being used or when being stored . as shown in fig2 , the device 10 has a longer shaft 20 than that shown in fig1 . the shaft portion above the stepping member 30 has a length that is about 4 times greater than the length below the stepping member . in some embodiments this can bring the length of the device to around 5 feet . thus , the length below the stepping member could be around 1 foot and the length above around 4 feet . of course , in some embodiments the stepping member is positionally adjustable and the ratios could be much larger or much smaller . in some such embodiments , the stepping member ( s ) could be part of a collar positioned about the shaft with the collar having a pin fitting into holes 50 positioned along a longitudinal length of the shaft 20 ( see fig4 ). in some applications of using the device , the pointed portion 40 needs to reach a deeper edge of a piece of rock or other obstructing material . in those instances , being able to raise the stepping member 30 would allow the device 10 to reach a deeper depth . throughout this specification the longitudinal direction means the direction along the elongated shaft . the transverse direction is the direction substantially orthogonal to the longitudinal direction . in some embodiments the stepping member support 33 can include angled portion 34 . the support 33 / 34 can be narrower than the shaft 20 or substantially equal . in some embodiments , the more distal end of the angled portion 34 can have edges that fit into slots in order to stabilize and / or position a longitudinally adjustable stepping member 30 . the stepping member 30 can also include a widened step pad 35 as shown best in fig2 and 4 . the step pad 37 can be better for the health of the foot and can allow for greater pressure to be applied consistently . the step pad 37 in most embodiments can be between 1 and 4 inches wide . in fig3 a top view is shown . the widened head 35 can be constructed for receiving the blows from a sledge hammer or other striking implement . the step pad 37 is also shown and gives an example of the dimensions that can be used in some embodiments . as shown in fig5 - 7 , an additional wing portion 40 is included . the winged portion has an upper portion 41 that is substantially parallel to the shaft 20 and a lower angled portion 42 that is at an oblique angle to the shaft 20 . the winged portion 40 can provide a fulcrum about which to help pry up rocks or other objects on the ground or within the soil . it can also be used as a means to lift logs from the ground in order to avoid a saw blade being dulled . it can be made shorter or longer for this and other purposes . in some embodiments the device is at least composed in part of metal , polymer / plastic , and / or ceramic . the shaft 20 can be hollow in some embodiments . in some embodiments , the hollow portion can be less than the full length of the shaft . this can lessen the weight of the device . in some applications the greater strain when prying will be located in the lower half of the shaft length ; thus , the hollow portion may be confined to the upper half or less of the shaft length . in some embodiments the shaft can be of one piece construction . in some embodiments the shaft and / or widened head is constructed in part or entirely of hardened steel . the above disclosure is intended to be illustrative and not exhaustive . this description will suggest many variations and alternatives to one of ordinary skill in this art . the various elements shown in the individual figures and described above may be combined or modified for combination as desired . all these alternatives and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the claims where the term “ comprising ” means “ including , but not limited to ”. further , the particular features presented in the dependent claims can be combined with each other in other manners within the scope of the invention such that the invention should be recognized as also specifically directed to other embodiments having any other possible combination of the features of the dependent claims . for instance , for purposes of claim publication , any dependent claim which follows should be taken as alternatively written in a multiple dependent form from all prior claims which possess all antecedents referenced in such dependent claim if such multiple dependent format is an accepted format within the jurisdiction ( e . g . each claim depending directly from claim 1 should be alternatively taken as depending from all previous claims ). in jurisdictions where multiple dependent claim formats are restricted , the following dependent claims should each be also taken as alternatively written in each singly dependent claim format which creates a dependency from a prior antecedent - possessing claim other than the specific claim listed in such dependent claim below . this completes the description of the preferred and alternate embodiments of the invention . those skilled in the art may recognize other equivalents to the specific embodiment described herein which equivalents are intended to be encompassed by the claims attached hereto .