Always remember that self reliance is the most important trait to have.
Like he said, don't count on peopleto get by, because they won't always be around. And even they are, chances are that they'll be assholes.
Also, if you got the balls, make a leap of faith, and you'll end up knowing what gear you need. For example, you end up cold at night, you'll know you need more layers for the nights to come, etc.
But i'd still recommend you to check out the StP library, lots of cool stuff to learn there. Download the articles that relate to your kind of trip, and read on!!