June 1 - Stats: 25 km / 824m gain / 4:40 hours MT / 539m high point / 11:00am - 6:00pm
The routes in the Stein Valley have been in exsistance for thousands of years. They provided the Nlaka-pamux people with trade access to coastal tribes as well as areas for hunting and gathering food, such as berries & roots, deer, goats & fish. Sti'yen means the Hidden River.
Finally, after 3 years, this trail was open. Our goal was to hike 13 km in to the suspension bridge. But I realized when we arrived at the Lytton two-car ferry, that that probably wouldn't happen. With 6 vehicles infront of us, and 15 minutes per return ferry crossing, we had a 45 minute delay. Thankfully the Reaction ferry was still running, although the water levels in the Fraser River were rising quickly.
Scouting around for a pit stop, I rounded the corner and saw this impressive view.
Brown-eyed Susan.
We decided to load all the gear and people into 2 cars and park Sonia's car at the terminal, therefore saving us a half hour wait for vehicle #3.
Gleaning info off of the ferry operators.
Salsify Tall Bluebells
The traditional group shot at the trailhead: me, Lorenz B, Case T, Sheri K, Peter E, Michelle K, Christine F, Sonia AJ, Christine C, Ingrid F, Peter F, Iraj F, Cathy U
Penstemons.
Stryen Creek.
Old Man's Whiskers
Upland Larkspur. The Asking Rock is a place of historical & spiritual significance to the Nlaka-pamux people. It is the tradition that they stop and say a prayer before continuing on their journey.
Stronecrop
2) Dwarf Woodland Rose 3) Field Chickweed 4) Arnica 5) Honeysuckle 6) Parmesen
Notice the beetle.
A steep but not too long climb on the Devil's Staircase, traversing through these boudler slopes.
A cicada in the process of metamorphasis.
A sketchy area, needing careful foot placement.
A short unmarked side trail led us to these pictographs which are actually a Unesco Heritage Site and date from 1800 to 1860.
Not far from the pictographs (about 1/3 way in) we decided to split into two groups and have a 3:00pm turn-back time.
Spotted Saxifrage
High water levels and debris.
The trail never ventured far from the Stein River.
This stretch of the forest, before Earls camp was the prettiest with large cedars and fast flowing creeks.
Several spots had blow-down which slowed our progress a bit.
At Earls cabin we ran into this large group of fire fighters based in Lytton. I'm thinking they probably cleared some of the trail ahead of us. John McL had just done it 2 days prior and warned us about the blowdown.
Cabin built by trapper Fred Earl by Earl's Creek. The two Peters were being camera-shy. This was the farthest we went.
The Arnicas were still in full bloom farther up the trail, than closer to the trailhead.
Team work.
Honeysuckle.
Unfortunately, Fat Jacks would not take us in for dinner anymore at 7:45pm. By the time we got to Hope it was 9:00pm. Being tired and smelly, we decided to just go to a drive-through and head for home. By the end of this day, I'd drunk a gallon of water. It was our first real sweaty hike this year.
The trail is still closed beyond the suspension bridge.
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