Short question, followed by a longer backstory.
Are there any high(er) altitude and preferably glaciated mountaineering objectives that are still in the realm of near-sanity during October/November? Only caveat is that it needs to be in the lower 48. I'm pretty sure Rainier is out of the question. Hood? Baker? Something else?
Backstory for anyone who cares: I just got myself invited on a non-guided Aconcagua expedition this coming January. I'd be the 4th guy on a team of strong and fairly experienced climbers. The leader has done Vinson, Elbrus, Everest (but turned around by weather), some S. American volcanoes, etc.
Meanwhile I have done nothing at altitude, ever. Highest I've climbed is probably Mt Baldy at about 12.5K at Philmont Scout Ranch when I was a kid. On the flip side, I know a hell of a lot more than the average first time mountaineering newbie. 10+ years climbing, 5+ years leading trad up to 5.10, going on my 2nd year leading ice up to WI4, and many years of winter camping. Also an EMT, WFR, blah blah blah, not trying to spray. I'll shut up.
So here's the rub - I don't want to be a liability to my team. I want to have at least 1 or 2 peaks and some glacier practice under my belt before flying south. Due to a 7 hour flight delay earlier this year, Airtran gifted me with a single use round trip ticket to anywhere they fly in the US.
What can I do? I don't mind the cold, I don't mind postholing, I just don't want to get nailed by rockfall or swept off by an avy.
Alternatively, is it worth wasting my free ticket to fly out to just get on a glacier and practice crevasse rescue (and not even making a summit attempt)? Phrased differently, can I just go out to my local crag and practice z pulleys etc, or do I need to be on a glacier? I'm a poor 26 year old so flights are at a premium for me. Don't want to blow my one chance to make it out to the PNW for the next year just to play around for 2-3 days.