just got everything in the 'real world' ready for my trip. im walking the first part of a trail with a friend(also new to this) just long enough to get my feet wet,and have been searching for ideas to lighten the load and to be safe. any easy tips that a little investigation may not uncover?

No easy tips. Read the Beginner forum. Use the search feature and look for specific topics. Set the time frame back 2-3 months.
Don't over think it. Have fun. Be safe.

Tango61

charchar, whether you realize it or not, you are member #10000! Congrats. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

Your question seems a bit vague. Is there any part of your prospective hike that you don't feel you know enough about to be able to come through it ok? Are you new to trail hiking & camping - or just new to overnight hikes in the backwoods?

charchar - Welcome! You will never find a better place or a better bunch of folks!
<img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
Tango has it, search and read the beginners forum. It sounds like awfully vague help, I know, but there is a ton of great info. Your original post is pretty vague. Is there an area of gear that we could zero in on for your first trip? Do you have questions or concerns about weight disparity among some of your gear?

Also, if there is any carrying that you and your buddy could share, that could help a lot. For a short trip, you don't both need stoves. If you're sharing shelter, split the parts/pieces between you. If you are CERTAIN of water supply, carry less water and treat/filter as you go.

It's so hard to offer advice. Sometimes you just have to cart a bunch of stuff with you and see what you use and what you don't. I used to carry a first aid kit that would make MidNightSun proud. That is until I got seriously injured on a hike and almost none of the stuff in the kit was useful . . .

Go. Have fun. Come back and tell us all how you did. We won't laugh; we were all beginners once. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> And I'd bet even the most experienced on this board still learns new stuff all the time.