June 21, 2015 (Day 17): Return to Talkeetna

We awoke to several other teams moving around the campsite.  It was similar to when we first landed, but now we were on the other side and just wanted to get off the mountain.  Arriving early was key to getting in line for the planes and we were also super lucky to once again have great weather.  We packed our stuff up and were soon back on the plane with TAT.  We touched down and Josh's girlfriend Chelsea had the AMS van waiting for us.  When we arrived back at their headquarters, they had a wonderful spread of fruit and snacks for the team.  Fresh watermelon was just what the doctor ordered.  We unpacked, sorted, and hung our gear to dry and planned for dinner at the Denali Brewpub.

Zach and I found lodging at the Swiss Inn but couldn't check in until the afternoon.  There was a gorgeous BMW GS1200 adventure in the parking lot and I spoke with the owner at the counter.  He  made his way up from Arizona and was on his way to Prudeau Bay via the Dalton Highway.  This got me thinking a bit because we had a few extra days before I flew back.  Zach and I then made our way to the Roadhouse and indulged in some fresh baked pastries.  Afterwards we headed back to the Swiss Inn for our first shower in over 3 weeks.  The team rejoined at the Brewpub and enjoyed a well-deserved dinner reliving stories from our expedition.  It was a great group of guys with great attitudes which made for a memorable adventure.  We all slept like babies in the comfort of a warm, soft, and spacious bed.