A solo trip should be ok for a complete novice, provided you stick to your resolution not to hike in more than a short distance from your car.

Since you have no background at all, you'll undoubtedly trip over your ignornace in many small, but unforeseeable ways. If you run into a really big issue, you'll be able to bail out pretty simply, just by walking out and driving home.

Since you intend to start out in October, please try to stay warm enough. Getting miserably cold is the best way to un-enjoy a camping trip, and hypothermia is very bad news for a solo hiker, since it can impair your judgment and even lead to death. Read up on hypothermia before you go. Please. It is the one thing that could make your trip genuinely dangerous.

Other than that, continue to read up on the subject, since that's the only source of info you'll have to go on, until you hit the trail and begin to find out more for yourself. If you read things you don't uderstand, (or just can't quite believe) coming to TLB and posting a question is a great way to get feedback.

My first backpacking trip was wet, cold, and a near disaster - if you look at it from an outsider's point of view. But I loved it and was hooked from the start. (And I got a lot better at it by the 2nd trip).

Good luck. Happy hiking! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />