I want to start climbing mountains, staring with simple trails on relatively small mountains and working my way up.
My first destination is Whistlers Mountain in Jasper, Canada, about four hours away.

Are there any things that a first timer should know? I've got good physical stamina and I hike regularly, but I've never tacked something with so much verticality.

As well, I've got a friend who wants to come with me, but hes in poor physical health and I'm not sure if he could do it. Would it be a bad decision to bring him with me?
Is scaling a mountain alone a bad idea?

Anyway, /mountain climbing general/

How many mountaineers are on this board?