Last week my friend, Ally, and I went camping. The weather is finally warming and the ground isn’t soaked through with soggy snow, so we packed our backpacks and set out into the Margaree valley. We ended up pitching our tent next to a set of tiny, cascading waterfalls on the side of one of Margaree’s mountains. We gathered up fallen tree branches, started a fire and ate dinner. We spent the rest of the evening laughing, writing and reading books as the smokey smell of the fire settled over us.

…As you’re packing we know it can be tempting to think what if I need this. Chances are if you’re questioning it, you probably won’t. Below is a list of five basic necessities to check your items against the next time you’re preparing for a hiking trip.