I thought we'd miss our trip to the BWCA this year, so I dragged my heels and didn't get a permit until two weeks ago for entry July 28. The only available permit that made sense was for S. Hegman Lake, so I grabbed it.

Last Monday, my wife was separating frozen hamburger patties with a butcher knife (NOTE TO BOARD: DON'T EVER, EVER DO THIS!!!!!), and she accidentally plunged the knife through her left middle finger. After micro surgery to sew up the cut tendon, nerve and artery in the finger, she's still intent on going to the B-Dub, but we'll just stay on the Hegmans and hike the Angleworm portage perhaps, in order to not stress her injured hand (paddling).

1. Question: I see there are only three campsites on S. Hegman. What's the reasonable risk that we get there and they're all taken?
2. We'll spend three nights on S. Hegman, just a chillin', a fishin' and a swimmin' with the kids (3 of them). Besides the pictos (duh!), what advice do you have for this sort of trip? Fun portages? Reasonable forays into nearby lakes? Good jumpin' in spots? Fishin' holes? Berry picking spots? Bumper boats (kidding)?

Thanks for your help.

Campsite closest to portage is best, second best is campsite closest to EP. Hegman is a nice lake for overnight trip. Make sure you paddle over to see the pictographs

Of course it's hard to know for sure about campsite availability but I think if you get a really early start on a Monday you should get a campsite. My sense is that most people on Hegman would be in for a few nights at most so campsites should turn over. (Right now one of the permits from the day before is not taken, BTW, which is a good sign - but could change.)

Also, under the circumstances, if it were me and the sites were all occupied early when I got there, I wouldn't be shy about paddling up to a site where people are up and about and asking politely if they might be breaking camp that day. If so, can you leave something to claim the site and come back later after they left? (This approach is to be contrasted with rudely hovering while people at the camp try to enjoy their morning and break camp.)

Hope your wife heals quickly and you all have a good trip.

Our family of two adults and a seven and ten year old base camped at South Hegman in August, 2006. We entered on a Monday afternoon as you are (2:00ish?) after dropping our teenager at Widjiwagan, and were able to get our chosen site, the one nearest to the portage to North Hegman. We had previously checked out all the S. Hegman sites; they all have something to offer but we liked the northern site best. Resident chipmunk, lookout white pine, and good rocks for lounging and swimming.

We were asked almost daily if we were leaving the site; the lake was busy all week with both day-trippers and what appeared to be mostly overladen trip canoes. The people staying across the lake (nearest EP portage) might have been car camping, they had lounge chairs and coolers (multiple) and it was quite a sight them getting in and out. But with such a beautiful lake 80 rods in that's what you get.

We had a great trip, however. Day trips canoeing and hiking to Bass Lake (there are sites there also if sites on S. Hegman are full; 180 rod portage vs. 480 to Angleworm) and Angleworm and bushwacking for winter trails around Hegman. Angleworm has beautiful hiking and will have some blueberries for you.

We had done a loop in May, 2006 South Hegman-Angleworm-Home-Gull-Gun-Fairy etc. exiting Mudro so enjoyed just doing the base camp thing that late summer while our older son was at camp.

You will have a great time. Best wishes on the micro-surgery--youch!