Joffre Lakes Group

The Duffey Lake Area has some of the finest mountaineering peaks in British Columbia. Located just north of Whistler, BC, in the Southern Coastal Mountains’ heart, is the Joffre Lakes Group.

Location: Whistler, BC
Duration: 1 Day or more
Difficulty: Introductory
Guest Ratio: 2 to 1

Starting at $750/day per person

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Coast Range Mountaineering Classics

The Duffey Lake Area has some of the finest mountaineering peaks in British Columbia. Located just north of Whistler, BC, in the Southern Coastal Mountains’ heart, is the Joffre Lakes Group. The Joffre Lakes group is the home to the majestic glaciated peaks of Mount Matier, Slalock, Hartzel and Mount Joffre. If not a stay at Keith’s Hut, camping will be at a high col on the Anniversary Glacier within striking distance of steep north faces, classic glacier ascents, and rocky ridge climbs - all in a sensational setting!

The Joffre Lakes Group is one of Canada’s great mountaineering areas on the Coast Range that is easily accessible from the highway. It is a bit of a hike, but there are many great mountaineering objectives to choose from once in the area. Let our certified ACMG and IFMGA Mountain Guides take you to the best mountaineering the Joffre Group has to offer.

Itinerary

Day 1: Meet in Whistler at the designated time and location to organize gear and food. Drive 1.5 hours north to the trailhead. The trailhead is typically a 3 to 4-hour hike up to Keith’s Hut in the Joffre Lakes Park. Once at the hut or camping area, your guide will assess the conditions and work with you to plan for the next days.

Day 2 and 3: We will have full days climbing peaks. Options include Vantage Peak, Mt Matier, Slalock, Hartzel and Mt Joffre. After the second day of climbing, we head back to Whistler for dinner.

*Contact us for custom dates, duration and included costs

2023 Dates

TBDTDB per person + GSTBook

Includes

Guide’s fees
Group equipment
Personal climbing gear (not boots)
Photos of the trip
Group gear
Stove/pot/fuel if required

Does Not Include

Hut/camping fees*
Food*
Transportation to trailhead*
Sleeping bag, mat, tent
Mountaineering boots
*Altus may arrange at additional cost

The Objective

The Joffre Lakes area offers many options, this trip is suitable for anyone from absolute beginner to the experienced mountaineer. Routes range from mellow glacier trips to airy technical rock ridges. Joffre Lakes group, especially with the Keith’s Hut, makes for a pleasant trip into the alpine.

Start Elevation: 1200m

Summit: 2730m

Gain: 1530m

Loss: 1530m

Distance from the summit: 7.9km

Frequently Asked Questions

Gear List

Gear list

Personal Gear

Boots - full-leather. They should be well broken-in and waterproofed with snow seal or similar
Sleeping bag - good to approx. -5 or -10 degrees Celsius
Sleeping pad - Therm-a-rest style or closed-cell foam
Backpack - 40-80 litre capacity
Summit-pack - 20-40 litre capacity (Optional)
Outer layer jacket with hood - Gore-Tex style
Lightweight outer layer waterproof pants - Gore-Tex style
Lightweight thermal layers - top & bottom, Polypro, Icebreaker, etc.
Climbing/hiking pants - nylon, fleece, Schoeller, etc. (1 pair)
Gloves (medium weight) - wool or poly-pro (2 pair)
Waterproof gloves or mitts (gloves work best) (2 pairs)
Warm parka/jacket - down, synthetic, fleece or pile (1)
Sweater or vest - wool, synthetic, fleece or down (1)
Socks - wool or synthetic blend (2-3 pairs)
Toque/warm hat - wool or fleece (1)
Sunglasses - UV block with good eye coverage (1pr)
Ski goggles
Headlamp with new batteries
Personal 1st aid (blister kit, toothbrush, toilet paper, etc.)
Misc. personal items (camera, journal, etc.)
Sunscreen - minimum spf45
Water bottles/hydration system - minimum 1 litres
Walking pole(s) - Optional but helpful for the approach/descent
Gaiters (1 pair) - Optional if built-in paint gaiters or boot gaiters
Communal equipment: (supplied by Altus if required)

Lightweight 2 or 3 person tent
Single burner stove and fuel
Cooking sets (2 pots per 3 people)
Personal eating utensils - cup, bowl, spoon
Compass and map
GPS
Technical equipment (supplied by Altus if required)

Ice axe and technical climbing tool
Climbing harness - seat harness only
Helmet
3 locking carabineers
1 belay device
Crampons - adjusted to your boots (1 pair)
Small “thermos” for hot drinks (optional)
Knife - Swiss army style
Tape / Repair kit

Booking Policy

Please take a moment to read and understand our policies before booking! Booking, payment, cancellation and weather policies, as well as FAQ, may be found here.

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