l just made my life list.Grew up in portland oregon soI've seen Mt.Hood from my front yard almost every day of my life.My life list includes climbing it finaly and looking back at portland and the rest of oregon for once.However l have no climbing experience.The worst climbing I've done was the Bonanza Mine trail in alaska when l was 230 lbs and all the skinny people were bug-eyed with their jaws dropped when they saw me finaly make it up (http://akhs.atfreeweb.com/Hikes/Bonanza.htm ).That was 10 years ago and I am in alot better shape now but still a little soft.So assuming l take a year or so to prepare my body, where should l start on undertaking this journey?I am not a big nature guy beyond going to the woods to shoot off my guns so I'd like to know a starting point, assume that l know nothing because l more or less do not when it comes to this.

Hire a guide service to help you out.

Timberline Mountain Guides is a guide service on Hood and they can teach you the necessary skills to get to the top with them (how to work on a rope team, knots, ice ax work, etc.).

l went with them twice on Hood. They are VERY good.