Amyloidosis‏

In 2007 my father, Dennis Blake, was diagnosed with a rare blood disease, Amyloidosis. After years of battling the disease, the correct diagnosis was finally given less then a week before he passed. Amyloidosis is a rare blood disease that can affect one or more organs when abnormal deposits of the amyloid protein are produced. It is debilitating and life threatening. The disease meant nothing to my family weeks before we first heard the word, and then it defined the rest of our lives. It is only in the last 25 years that physicians have started to understand the disease. I have been hiking the Appalachian trail for a little more then a month. Hiking 8 to 12 hours a day, I have had plenty of time to think of my father and what kind of differences I could make in his name. I would love to make this epic adventure about more then myself. The amyloidosis foundation's mission is to increase education and awareness in hopes that it will lead to earlier diagnosis and improved treatment. My goal is to raise $1,000 in the name of my father. I have roughly 200 miles left. Just one penny per mile adds up to $20 when I complete the trail of 2,000 miles. If anybody would like to donate a small amount per every mile I complete, then I am confident that I can reach my goal. Here are the directions and the page link for the donations: Check "In memory of" and add my father's name "Dennis Blake"

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Goodbye NC, Goodbye TN, HELLO My Sweet Virginia!

Since I arrived back on the trail monday ive found it hard to take it easy! Ive been hiking big miles thru beautiful mountains. Basically hiking alone all week, I woke up early every morning and walked at a steady pace until dark.
The first day back on the trail was tough. A 3000 foot climb up to Roan Mountian, 6,275 feet, was tough but the high elevations never disapoint. Up there the fraiser furs are king. Beautiful evergreens, forest floor covered in mosses, and a steep incline lead to a nice afternoon. I threw my tent up at the summit just after a beautiful sunset.
Tuesday morning I was hiking down Roan mountain at sunrise, one of my favorite mountains since the Smokies. The high elevation forest appears to be in much better health then the Smokies. I didnt notice the huge stands of dying trees like I did in the Smokies where pollution and bugs are wrecking the forest. My afternoon was spent trekking up and down huge balds with great views all around. I met "Optimus" and "Stopwatch." They are a newly married couple that has hiked the pacific crest trail and the A.T. before. In there spare time they run marathons. They bring that same attitude out here on the trail, averaging close to 30 miles a day! They invited me along with them for the rest of the day. We hiked another 12 miles at a fast pace, thru Campbell Hollow along a river for some of the flattest parts of the trail Ive ever seen. Soon the water will be warm enough and I wont let a river like that one go to waste without taking a dip! We came to the Mountaineer Shelter around 8 and completed a 25 mile day.
Wednesday morning I woke late and made moves for my Ibeprofin before my oatmeal. I wished Optimus and Stopwatch goodluck on there journey because there was no way i was hiking at there speed again. I hiked alone all day. The forest floor is completely covered in green now. Wildflowers so numerous they only get a quick glance these days, unless there is a new arrival. It seems every 3 to 4 days a new flower is in bloom. If only i could afford the weight of a book maybe I could identify some. I made it to "the never Closed Kinkora Hostel" just off the trail early that afternoon. I planned on only a quick resupply but ended up staying the night. Free pizza, chicken, and sodas was pretty inticing.
The next morning got started right with Mountain Dew and oatmeal. I was on the trail by 6 with my headlamp guiding the way. A beautiful hike thru Laurel Fork, past waterfalls and along the creek all morning. The rest of the day was spent hiking the ridges above Watuga Lake. A late night arrival that night at the Iron Mtn. Shelter where Sabertooth, Blugrass and Squirrel were waiting. It was good to be back with the "High End Homeless."
Friday we hiked with high spirits to US 421 where Jamie was waiting.  A well deserved "zero" day spent with my favorite girl, eating at every all you can eat restaurant in town.....oh yeah, Capitals playoff hockey too!
In one week we have left NC and will be donce with TN tomorrow.  We will officially cross the VA state line on Easter Sunday! Life is good!
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