Day 22 - Going home

Left 14K camp at 2:00 p.m.

Encountered hard, good snow and used crampons throughout the 16km, 2,200m descent. The weather was good and the walk was relatively easy and enjoyable, except for Heartbreak Hill, where it was a bit slow. We enjoyed traveling at night because there was no brutal sun on the lower glacier.

Retrieved our second sled, which we had cached at 11K camp.

We arrived at Base Camp the next day at 5:00 a.m. Vera retrieved our cache with jerky and other snacks, which tasted fantastic. Then, she set up the tent while I rested for a bit. Vera started melting snow and packing our stuff for air. At 9:30 a.m., we left Base Camp in Talkeetna Air Taxi.

After 22 days of only snow, ice, and rock, the green foliage produced a previously unknown, very deep, sharp, and distinct impression. We were not sure how to describe it.

We both entered a mental state of absolute inner peace and harmony and remained in it for the next few days. We experienced unreal pleasure from any food, sleep, and shower.