Just wondering here... I do "low" altitude mountaineering here in Brazil, independent, and even done it alone. I have orientation skills, I rock climb so I go (some of) the technical part down, backpacking experience yadda yadda, but the whole "snow and ice" world is all new to me, and obviously, coming from where I come, a completely new environment. I´ve climbed (high mountains) guided a few times, but it really bothers me for all the reasons I need not list here, but I do feel yet totally incapable of tackling a snowy peak on my own.
So this isn´t much of question, but more of an exploratory topic for people to tell how they started going independently. I know some people just go at it, and others go with more experienced people (neither is my case) so, how or when did you feel ready to dismiss a guide? How was the experience? What would you have done differently? Was it too soon or to late when you first did it? Is it really that much harder than going with a guide if you´re not an expert (given you´ll do something that´s not too much harder than you should be doing)?
Thanks guys!