Delaware Dave’s Walk

On April 9, 2013, a family member of one of our PTLS children decided to make yet another journey and hike a 2,650 mile hike on the Pacific Crest Trail, in honor of Potocki-Lupski Syndrome. As an uncle to a child diagnosed with PTLS and a wonderful supporter of the Foundation, Delaware Dave has shared his fantastic triumphs and beautiful photos from his journey. When asked as to why he walks, Delaware Dave responded with “it’s hard to put down in words something that is so monumental and all that this means to me.   I have always loved the outdoors and felt most comfortable and spiritually connected when in nature. So when I thru-hiked the Appalachian trail in 2011, and was submerged into the long distance hiking culture, I knew I had found my true calling. When I saw a small window of opportunity to hike the Pacific Crest Trail this year, I jumped right on it.

So, as Delaware Dave sleeps on natures floor and sits in the freezing temperatures as he “cowboy camps”, I ask that you please help support Dave on his journey, as he is “living the dream” to help our children live theirs. The funds are desperately needed for awareness, education and research for this rare chromosome duplication (dup17p11.2), otherwise known as Potocki-Lupski Syndrome (PTLS). We appreciate your generous donation to the cause.

Follow Delaware Dave on his journey (link to FB or Go fund Me site).

If we will only look down at our feet, they are right where they are supposed to be. Our job is to just keep moving, with determination in our minds and hope in our hearts, taking in every part of this experience. So Dave is faced with nature and its fury, and PTLS parents are faced with health and developmental challenges of our children, we both have a reason to slow down and take in the magnificent beauty that is in place around us.

Update 6/24/2013 (Repost from FB site):One morning i awoke to the sound of my bear canister rolling around and when i opened my eyes and looked out of the tent that is when i was the closest i have ever been to a bear. 4′ away. Once he realized i had no food that he could get at, he wandered away. Another evening as i was sitting quietly in camp a coyote walked almost right up to me before he became aware i was there and skirted away.

Update 6/24/2013 (Repost from FB site): The mosquito’s have been getting progressively worse. One morning they were so thick i just threw my gear in my pack and literally ran away screaming the next unscheduled town stop was Mammoth Lakes. I met some new hiker family and we decided to come off trail to see another thru-hiker who is a cellist and is performing at different stops along the trail. Concert was lovely and then as always things have a way of “coincidentally” coming together. The town was pretty much booked for the wkend but we scored a condo for a couple nights. For cheap. Which is good since most thru-hikers are currently unemployed. I cannot fully describe the awesomeness of the scenery i am hiking through but i believe it to be some of the best in the world. This is second to the spirituality of the journey, which is even harder to put into words and which beauty is unsurpassed by anything that i am seeing w/ my eyes. I am meeting great people and the conversations and connections being made are incredible and priceless. I am truly blessed to experience this long distance hike. I get asked alot to compare the A.T. and the P.C.T. And have realized that you can’t compare the two side by side because this is just a continuation of the trip i started at Springer mountain in Georgia. Well going to let the weather clear and head back out tmw. I will hopefully post more from lake Tahoe in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for letting me share. Bless.