Paddling Duffy Lake

Yesterday I got to do something that's been on my bucket list for a long time - paddle Duffy Lake. After driving past it on road trips, ski trips, backpacking trips and hiking trips, I had become obsessed with the idea of exploring it by water. 

Duffy Lake is the huge turquoise basin of water high up on the Duffy Lake Road, one of the most scenic drives in BC. The Joffre group sits at the south end of the lake, towering above it with steep cliffs and hanging glaciers. The aspens were just starting to turn yellow yesterday, and mixed with the bright water and sunny/stormy skies, it was quite the place to behold. 

Since it was a Monday morning, we had the place to ourselves. 

It was 6C when we started off, but warmed up to a beautiful afternoon, and we could ditch the toques. The edge of Duffy Lake opposite the road is stunning. You paddle under ultra steep avalanche paths, past fields of wildflowers and huge aspens, growing with their feet right in the lake. 

Straight ahead is the incredible Mt Joffre. My friend looked like a mountain princess with the flower in her hair.

There's usually a strong wind howling down Duffy Lake, and yesterday was no exception. Thankfully we were paddling into it on the way out, and could surf the waves all the way back, barely needing to paddle at all. 

It feels so amazing when you get to go do something you've had your eye on for a long time. The experience was even better than I had imagined.