Lose Weight

[booter]

No, I haven't done any guided trips. I just started local/small and got comfortable on snow. Did hikes on lower grades with microspikes. Then some steeper stuff with crampons. Got comfortable using the ice axe and learning how to self arrest. You'll also meet people out there when you're doing that stuff, and often that can turn into a big learning experience.

Lots of YouTube videos will show you how to use crampons and an ice axe properly. Search for French Technique and Standard crampons usage. Ice Axe stuff search how to self arrest.

After this though you need to actually practice. Take some easy winter hikes in microspikes along flat trails. Do some steeper stuff in crampons and get comfortable with how you move in them.

Find some safe areas where if you slip, there are no bad consequences. Think a long runout at the bottom of a 30-45deg slope. Go there, climb up, and fall down and start sliding in different positions. Stop yourself. This just needs to become second nature because if you find yourself in a slide situation with any sort of actual exposure/consequences, you need to stop soon or you won't be able to at all.

If I ever manage to do a biiiiig objective like Denali (7+ days) I'll def be using a guide program though.

Freedom of the Hills is the bible for backcountry/mountaineering safety.