btsan.
If you don't have any mountaineering skills I would recommend that you not try Mt. Whitney for your first. There is a class I think REI offers that talks about the basics of mountaineering. Not sure if they offer any field experience, but it's worth a look into if you're interested in the sport. Closer to SF, you might consider doing a guided climb of Shasta to get some practical experience by a certified guide who can show you some good skills, etc... Best of luck!
Agreed.
I'll sign up for the guided Shasta climb first.
Is it really easier than guide Whitney?
