This is a post regarding 2025. I'm so envious of those posting about this year's trips. I cant make it out until next year.

Taking a group of (hopefully) 4 up to the nice site on beartrap to Basecamp and enjoy some day trips to sunday and possibly sterling (if i can get an overnite permit in the pma). We have 6 nights/7 days total. There is a super old thread on this, but with recent crowding, I want to get a better feel of current conditions. Just a few questions:

Is the angleworm portage or the portage from tease worth missing out on some of the crowds? We would spend our first night on either angleworm or fairy. Which area has a better chance of securing a decent site in August?

Is gun/gull/thunder/ beartrap usually a busy area? I know fourtown can get very crowded but does the area north of it?

Has moosecamp-fourtown been navigable the last few years or should I plan on doubling back?

Trying to make a loop trip, if it's ill advised I will revise my plan. The other area I was looking at was Stuart, which I've heard can be a pretty tough stretch. We are looking for a less crowded area within 25 miles of an entry point to base camp. We have done PMAs in the past and have considered day trips into them on our next trip. I'm just trying to take it a little easier as our last trip was pretty tough, and i feel like the time will be more appreciated if we try basecamping. If anyone has other suggestions of semi-secluded areas I'll take them. We are all in mid 30s and healthy condition, just interested in trying something different. Looking to travel no more than a day or two to get to our basecamping lake. We have done EP 14 in the past, looking to explore something new.

I’ve used the angleworm and tease portages many times. Lately I’ve been skunked a few times for campsites. Angleworm is a gorgeous lake, the portages in are tough but doable

I think Stuart will be the less busy of your options. The nice thing about Stuart is that you're pretty much guaranteed not to see anyone until Stuart. The first portage is long but mostly downhill. There is at least one beaver damn to cross and maybe one low area near the last portage depending on water levels. My vote is for a Stuart Lake base camp. From Stuart you can day trip to LLC or Iron.

You should also look into the status of the portage into Angleworm. Rumor has it the boardwalk has fallen apart and is nearly impassable. I have been unable to learn what the forest service is doing about rebuilding/rerouting/abandoning it.

Thanks guys! I've really been wrestling with the routes. There are so many options and EP 14 was a really good one to start with. 4 trips under my belt in this area and it's become my comfort zone when we go out. Excited to try somewhere new. Probably going with Stuart, as that was my first pick anyway. Really want to try to get into sterling for a night or two. Got my first taste of the solitude of a PMA and craving more!

Angleworm Boardwalk Oct 2023

There is a beaver dam that people are using to cross. I talked to a couple of guys who ran the trail last fall. They said they were able to keep their feet dry on the first crossing, but got a little wet on the return.

Thanks for the heads up! Just another reason to head in ep 19 instead

That's the EP 20 portage, right? The portage from Trease is still OK? I'm heading in on S Hegman this fall and haven't decided if I'm going to do a relaxing "hang around" kind of basecamp trip or try that portage.

plmn: "That's the EP 20 portage, right? The portage from Trease is still OK? I'm heading in on S Hegman this fall and haven't decided if I'm going to do a relaxing "hang around" kind of basecamp trip or try that portage. "

Portage from Trease to Angleworm is ok.

If you are going through Angleworm to Gull, keep the campsite on the east shore of Home on your radar--beautiful site!

The Trease to Angleworm portage is a bit of a nasty one and maybe the toughest that I've personally tackled but I like this option as South Hegman is a pretty cool entry point, you have the chance to see the North Hegman pictos and once you hit Angleworm, there a number of nice campstes to choose from on your way to Gull
and Gun or Thunder, including the site I mentioned on Home.

bottomtothetap: "If you are going through Angleworm to Gull, keep the campsite on the east shore of Home on your radar--beautiful site!

The Trease to Angleworm portage is a bit of a nasty one and maybe the toughest that I've personally tackled but I like this option as South Hegman is a pretty cool entry point, you have the chance to see the North Hegman pictos and once you hit Angleworm, there a number of nice campstes to choose from on your way to Gull
and Gun or Thunder, including the site I mentioned on Home. "

Thanks, yeah doing that portage would completely change the tone of the trip from relaxation to a challenge. Will probably just depend on what I feel like that week.