Sunday, June 13, 2021 Packed up camp, paddled to the truck and drove towards Ely. Partway down the road, my phone went crazy with text messages, apparently there is some phone service along the Echo trail. Called Pete to see where he was, as today was the day before the start of our trip. Met Pete at Piragis Northwoods Company in Ely to get our permit and check out new items in the store. We then decided to stop at the City Park Pavilion to consolidate our gear and remove unessential items. I got my pack down to 40lbs plus fishing bag with camera at 15lbs – lightest ever personal load – and we got going about 4pm. We launched our canoes on Snowbank Lake and found a site to do some dispersed camping on MN School Trust Land so we could get an early start in the morning, with our June 14th permit. Ended the day with pancakes and eggs for dinner, cooked on the stove – no fire, and then to bed so we could get an early start in the morning.