1999 STEIN CAMPOUT PHOTOS
The Stein Valley River and Trail are the last unloged, intact watershed in British Columbia that's within 160 km (100 miles) of a heavily populated center. The Stein Valley area has for centuries had a very special and spiritual meaning to the aboriginal people in this region, and has many unique pictographs and petroglyphs.
On November 23 in 1995, the Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Heritage Park was formally made official, and this region is jointly managed by the provincial government and the Lytton Indian Band.
The Stein Valley Trail Hike Start
LEAVING CAMP FOR THE BIG STEIN HIKE!
IN THE END THERE WERE ONLY 5 !
The Stein River and Valley:
There are no roads in the Stein Valley, which is approximately 40 miles long and completely surrounded by spectacular mountains. The valley is covered by ponderosa pine beautiful cottonwood and birch trees, Douglas fir, cedar, spruce and carpeted floral alpine meadows. The highest point in the Stein Valley is Skihist Mountain that reaches up to 9759 feet at the summit. Within this watershed are three small glaciers, and more than 200 sq. mi. of alpine meadows, four large lakes and an abundance of wildlife, including black bears and grizzlies and mountain lion. The Stein River starts as a small trickle, travels through one of the four lakes and a series of waterfalls before it passes through the high meadows. From here, the Stein River drops very quickly to a level of 3400 ft. into the Stein Lake. And before it reaches the valley floor and the last 40 mi. to the Fraser River, the Stein River drops one more time. This drop is only six m (20 ft.) as it rushes to meet the Fraser River, at Lytton.
The Stein Heritage Trail:
The trail which is 58 km (36 mi.) starts at the Van Winkle Flats sandy bench land and goes all the way to Stein Lake. The first section passes through the lower canyon, where the Stein has cut a narrow gorge and you make your way along the Devil's Staircase. Now the hike takes you along the valley bottom to Earl's Creek, this is a winding part of the trail and is quite easy going. When you reach km 11.6 (mile 7) a hand- operated cable car takes you over to the north shore. 28 km (18 mi.) from the trail head you come to Cottonwood Creek, where you will find tall black cottonwoods (hence the name Cottonwood Creek). This creek flows into the Stein River, coming in from the north.
Now you start hiking through a more isolated region till you come to Scudamore Creek. At this point on the trail, you come across the second hand-operated cable car. This one is strung between two large Douglas Firs. At a place called Raven Flats, the Scudamore Creek enters into the Stein River, and the Stein River Valley narrows. In fact, it narrows to a very steep gorge of 4000 ft. and the trail starts to steadily climb. It continues this steady climb onto the portion of the valley known as the Upper Canyon and from here the trail leads to the alpine areas above Stein Lake. This region is heavily wooded and you are now at an elevation that reaches 3395 ft. and at the end of this backcountry trail.
The Stein Valley Nlaka'pamux Heritage Park is a wilderness area. There are no support services on the or near the trail, after you leave Lytton, so be well prepared. This means you must be self sufficient and caution should be exercised at all times. Hikers may camp anywhere along the main route, but no facilities are provided. The suggested hiking time to do the complete trail is about a week. The hike is recommended for families with teenagers
BABES AT STEIN BEACH
STEIN BEACH, ALONG THE FRASER RIVER
CRAZY GEORGE & THE CAMPSITE
THE PIPELINE BRIDGE HIKE
ANNUAL STEIN RIVER VALLEY CAMPOUT MAY LONG WEEKEND
WHAT A GREAT TIME!
MORE PHOTOS COMING IN MAY FROM THE 2000 TRIP!!!
ARROWS
MAIL
BACK
HOME