I totally agree with going with a very reputable guide service. The problem with alpine clubs in the US (as opposed to Eastern Europe) is ( ok, this is blasphemy) is most of the clubs spend too much time teaching new comers and not enough time really climbing so many of the teachers I would say are beginners when you compare them to the typical "live out of a truck" climbing guide. You want to learn who has both knowledge and experience.

It's not only
1) snow and ice travel
2) glacier travel
3) rock travel
4) movement

but it's realistic risk assessment, outlook and attitude.

brochill wrote:Are there any particularly good courses or mountains to cut my teeth on? I was looking at a winter ascent of Mt. Washington next year with a buddy. Is that out of reach for people with no experience?

Nope! Very doable as is Kathadin. Done em both in Summer and in Winter. Great challenges that will assuredly test your meddle and make you see if you really like this climbing stuff and some of the suffering that it offers.

I do recommend that you head on over to North Conway and sign for some basic Rock and Alpine course through Rick Wilcox's great store IMCS. They are some of the best folks you'll ever meet.

But what do I know.....

Thanks for the advice, everyone. I've got "Freedom of the Hills," and I'm gonna start going through it. I'm definitely going to take a few courses, but I can't justify buying guide services for something like Rainier or Denali. RMI wants to charge something like $4,500 for Denali. I could hike for 4 or 5 months on that.