Bishop Pass was the final pass to get over on this stretch and it too was more of the same (not easy). But I was easily spurred on by the thought of town food.

On the switchbacks on the way up I ran into a hiker (former Marine) who cowboy camped right on the edge. He had completely ran out of food the previous day, so I happily gave him last freeze-dried meal. He seemed very grateful.

Coming off Bishop Pass was nothing but an ice and snow field. I dropped off the first level and see a crow in the snow not flying away the moment that it saw me. I thought that was weird so I shuffled my way through the snow down to where it was. I got within 15 feet before the crow finally backed away, but it still didn't fly off. Then I saw the antler sticking out of the snow. It was a really nice muley shed. I went to pull it out, but it wouldn't budge. Whoa--there was still a whole mule deer attached to that antler, still frozen in the ice below. I gave it my best effort, but I still could not free it. Just guessing, but I think that thing was pushing 30 inches.

Just 16 miles and a hitched ride from a very nice Japanese woman and I was "eating steak" in Bishop. It was glorious.