Originally Posted by BGTV8

Bearing death is usually due to sustained hi-rpm or oil starvation but oil consumption needs to be excessive and/or lateral G need to be significant for that to happen.

OP talks about "checking my oil" so I'm thinking that 8k miles he has burned enough oil for starvation to occur - probably as a consequence of a steep grade.

In any event, I'm calling this as a consequence of a lack of mechanical sympathy