goodluck at it and enjoy while your doing it all,
nway the good programms are any programms, most guys here usw 3d studio max, milkshape 3D, some usw lightwave (include me) and some gmax and well decide it on ur own... anyway maps for hl should be done with valve hammer...
have fun, and skinning tuts are truelly not important, just learn the coloring rules and get a programm like bodypaint and photoshop