Registered: 02/23/07
Posts: 1735
Loc: California (southern)
Good beginning. Go out and get some experience in country that appeals to you. It's basically just putting one foot in front of the other until you reach your destination. Do plenty of day hikes, and begin with an easy overnight in good conditions. Extend your trips from there. You might even try camping out in your back yard first just to get a feel for your gear and how it works.
There is lots of info on this site on critical gear. Do pay attention to the "ten essentials." There are good reasons they are listed as such. What are you using for navigation? Specifically, I would be wary of any "basic hiking shoes from Big 5." You may want to get something better. The Becker is a stout knife; you may tire of hauling it around when something a good bit lighter, like a Mora, will do an equally good job.
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