The Stein

Bryan Smith, fellow contributor to the Range Life, is about to get married. Sometime during the cold, wet, gray winter of last, discussions ensued about how to celebrate Bryan's whaning Bachelorhood. I think a SHOE SHOW party was quickly replaced by a more TOMMY HILLEKE-ESQUE celebration. The homathko quickly became the target river; however, we knew many people would not be able to make that trip for several reasons. So a more inclusive celebration was set in motion: Gather as many people as we could and perform a mass assault down the Stein River! Our trusted float plane service, WHISTLER AIR, has an Otter that holds seven kayakers and boats, so we were looking for a group size in multiples of seven to minimize costs. Once we realized 21 people would be a little impractical, we settled on a group of 14.

This crew and this trip had far too many "had to have been there" moments to try and replay. Lets just say that the Stein is a river that should go on the Must Do list, if not for the whitewater or the scenery, just for getting out in the woods with the gang for 3 nights and creating your own "had to have been there" moments. So I'll give you a little guide by photos. Enjoy the pics.

Day One - Not your average shuttle

The Man: bryan smith. The Mission: stag party

photo by Joey Vosburgh

First you start at Lytton, BC with a rental van

photo by Matt Thomas

Then you drive up over the Duffy to Whistler for a little scenic flight

photo by Matt Thomas

When you fly over Tundra Lake - which you will know by the most spectacular Cobalt Blue you have ever seen - you know you are almost there.

photo by Joey Vosburgh

Then you land on Stein Lake and get your stuff out of the plane

photo by Matt Thomas

Then you camp at the outlet on river right and enjoy a luxury dinner since you didn't have to pack it in your boat. Yum.

Day 2 - The Bedrock Section

After portaging all the log jams until the confluence with the N. Stein, then you Run the shit!

photo by Matt Thomas

We were all surprised by the quality of rapids in the first day and the amount of bedrock

photo by Chris Tretwold

Eventually you will come to this fine drop

photo by Matt Thomas

Not to be confused by the Squamish Boof, here is Greg demonstrating the Squamish Kick-Flip

photo by Matt Thomas

And more fun bedrock mini-gorges

photo by Matt Thomas

Once it starts flattening out, look for a good camp

photo by Matt Thomas

Day 3 - Flatwater, Log Jams, and Beetles in Drysuits

After a bit you will come to the biggest ole log jam ya ever did see

photo by Matt Thomas

Then you will come to the "Nam" portage

photo by Chris Tretwold

We camped right at the end of the flat water, right above footbridge...and made fire

photo by Matt Thomas

Day 4 - Mad Bombing

We estimated that from camp to the take-out was 8 miles and 1700 vertical feet. And we caught about 2 dozen eddies. The bachelor in a drop that required an eddy first.

photo by Matt Thomas

Eventually you come to Devil's Staircase, the biggest drop on the Stein

photo by Matt Thomas

It was a serious Mad Bombing session below the staircase for many miles

photo by Chris Tretwold

Finally, you will drop into the Frasier river and ride the big water back down to Lytton.
And POSE FOR THE GROUP PHOTO