​There are certainly numerous ways to go about this, here’s what works for us.
Pack -The first thing to consider is what kind of pack do you need. Backpacks are sized by volume, so you need to know how many days you plan to be out on average so that you have the space you need. Most beginners  start with a 3-4 night range, but this is also the time when you tend to over pack and bring everything plus the kitchen sink. My advice is to get a pack rated for 5-7 nights. You can always not fill it up. Also, you want to stay within the 20% of your body weight ratio when your pack is full. If you are a small person or out of muscular strength, you’ll be happier with a lighter pack. Remember water will be your heaviest item. 

​Almost 10 years ago, my beloved mother passed away from ALS after a very quick and hard fought battle against the disease. By then, I was 30 years old and a mom myself. My mom had the opportunity to see me marry a man my father became strong friends with for all his interesting talents and hobbies; she enjoyed meals in my home watching me try to perfect her classic recipes and helping me tweak my skills and cooking; she shook her head watching me garden and can my own vegetables wondering how I finally got interested in an art I had watched her do a thousand times, yet never seemed much interested in growing up… However, she never witnessed my love of the wildflowers she was such a pro at naming and finding.