More Sierra High Route “Bonus Miles”

Abram – the mysterious fellow I met on my L2H hike in October – introduced me to the concept of “bonus miles.”

We’re lucky enough as it is to be hiking, thus, any extra miles hiked to get here or there that aren’t on the itinerary are “bonus miles.”

Bonus Miles – Pics

These are shots from the bonus miles tagged to the end of my Sierra High Route trek.

I was done with this epic route at around 1pm October 21st, but I was still deep in the Sierra. A matter of note – the old Taboose Pass trail is very cool. It’s marked on topo maps but little-traveled, a tiny bit hard to find in spots, and quite steep, but I loved it. I took it on the way out for variety.

While taking a much-needed break in this vast meadow, I saw how little birds would fly up 5-10 feet in the air and hover, then return to the ground. It was windy, so it was quite a feat, and a good show.While taking a much-needed break in this vast meadow, I saw how little birds would fly up 5-10 feet in the air and hover, then return to the ground. It was windy, so it was quite a feat, and a good show.

It wasn’t until about 1pm on the 22nd that I set foot back in Lone Pine. So though I was dreaming of getting to the trailhead and miraculously catching a bus ride to Lone Pine the evening of the 21st, the reality was I spent an extra night on Taboose Pass and came down the next morning.

First I saw these guys – four four-point bucks hanging out during rut. Odd. I hated scaring them, but as they were on the trail there wasn’t much I could do. I took a quick video and kept moving.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3wAWlKDWkOY