Tom Stienstra Blog Posts
At the front of the boat, the Grand Master of flyfishing, Ed Rice, blind from a virus, wobbled from a stroke, swept his rod like a magic wand. He hoped to cast one last spell over America’s largest rainbow trout. “I told the doctor, ‘Don’t give me any crap. Give it to me straight,’ “ Rice said. “He told me, ‘You could die today. Or tomorrow. Or maybe live a [...]
The 3-mile trek to 8,740-foot Ellis Peak over North Lake Tahoe Click on image to go to specific photo page. Then click on photo again to enlarge. All images copyright 2011 by Tom Stienatra From my story in the San Francisco Chronicle: Some people will walk a hundred miles in a week to get what is available in three miles and a few hours at 8,740-foot Ellis Peak. It [...]
Three pretty cool shots "Shastacular" . . . Reverse lenticular on Mount Shasta Mount Shasta reverse lenticular cloud Copyright 2011 by Tom Stienstra. All rights reserved. "Shooting Star-flowers" . . . Trinity-Divide Meadow below Pyramid Peak Copyright 2011 by Tom Stienstra. All rights reserved. Where Heaven and Earth Meet: Heart Lake view out to Mount Shasta Copyright 2011 by Tom Stienstra. All rights reserved. Nobody could have been more surprised [...]
Received many requests for more photos of my adventure this week, climbing the Sierra Buttes in Tahoe National Forest. The story appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle at www.sfgate.com/outdoors. I was very happy with the two photos they selected, and here are some of the rest. From Sardine Lake, you can peer up at the Sierra Buttes. Great lake for canoes, kayaks. Then on the drive [...]
Been roaming around the high country for several weeks now. Had a nice hit on last Thursday's Chronicle story about climbing Mount Tallac at Lake Tahoe, and just got down today from another central Sierra peak -- check Sunday's Chron for story, pics and how to do the trip. The big shocker is that the snow line in the high country is at about 9,500 feet elevation in the central [...]
1. Have great friends The outdoor experience is best when shared with a friend. Once, for a Chronicle story, I asked 10 of the top outdoors writers in America who travel throughout the hemisphere to describe their ultimate outdoor experience. In all but one case, they described an experience with their families or people they loved. Even the mundane can be made great with true friends, and the great can be made [...]