I don't use liquid fuels (cept in my backyard bar-b-q <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />) so I can't comment there. However when it comes to backpacking I have a few opinions <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> and it sounds to me like you're going about it the right way. Start with day hikes, then when youre comfortable there, then move on to overnight (one night trips) in a place with cell coverage (and take a cell phone with fully charged batteries) and a campsite that isn't too far from the trailhead. Schedule your overnight trips when the forecast shows good weather conditions (but of course be prepared for bad conditions anyway) until you're confortable overnighting. Then (and some people may call me crazy for this one) schedule an overnight trip at that same campsite near the trailhead for a night when you know the weather will be bad. Now don't be silly and go out during a hurricane or flash flooding, but go when light to moderate rain is expected. The idea here is that youre prepareing in a relatively safe environment for thouse 4+ day trips out in to the boonies where the weather gets bad while youre too far out to hike back to civilization. <img src="/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Other than that I'd say just stay on the trails and take good care of your trail map. First time I went to Dinosaur Valley State Park here in Texas it was hot and I was pouring with sweat and had already crossed a river and a couple creeks and just about the time I got about as far as one could possibly get from the trailhead my map finally disintegrated from prolonged exposure to moisture, mostly from sweat. I managed to fumble my way back to the trailhead with a little help from my faithful companion (7 year old laborador retriever) but it took a long time and we were real close to having to spend the night on the trail.

Sorry I tend to get long-winded with my posts... I just rreally enjoy discussing this stuff with people who share similar interests.

Oh ya one more thing... if youre concerned that a map and compass aren't enough to keep you from getting lost right now while youre still learning, then I strongly recommend a GPS with the tracking option (almost all GPS's have that option) and plenty of fresh batteries. I'm no orienteering expert when comes to map and compass (though I keep practicing) and when I go off-trail (or even sometimes on-trail at new location) I take a GPS and I have used it more than once to retrace my steps. Be aware however that if the weather gets bad or you have a thick canopy of trees then the GPS temporarily turns into not much more than an expensive paperweight. <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />