well glob, i am from central MN and have never backpacked before, as stated before i plan on doing some 3-4 day trips in northern MN (duluth) to gain experience of the basics and work out kinks. the trip right is now is we are goin to idaho and it would be my brother and me out there, working on gettin two others out there. the other guys have been out there multiple times but i am not counting on them as i want to be as able as possible.