>>657781By 'in high school' I presume you mean 'just turned 18'. So, young, reasonably fit and keen.
If you've been hunting with your father you probably already know some good places to go. Did you camp with your dad, is he still keen to go out there with you? That seems to me the best of both worlds.
If that's not an option, find somewhere you want and can go to and over night there. That will let you know what you can/can't do, what equipment you have/don't have/don't know how to use effectively, without getting killed on a 3 week hike.
Once you're comfortable spending a night /out/, extend, try taking less gear and using what you have better. A bit like getting better on /fit/ works.Start small, repeat and slowly stretch yourself.
Hope that helps a bit. Just got to go cook dinner but I'll be back in about an hour if there's anything else I can help with.
