kalsha//231//502

Hello, I am new to climbing. I took a snow school out on Mt. Hood last year and was wanting some info about Mt. St. Helens. I was wanting to first know what kind of climb it is. I have heard that the route is marked with large poles all the way to the summit, is this true? When I took the school out on Hood they told us that after we had done the school we could solo the South Sister with the skills that we had learned, does this sound right? I like the guide services but I felt with the snow school that they was a lot of "hurry up lets get this over with by the guides" so I was thinking of St helens in not a bear I was thinking of soloing it or if all else fails getting a guide service. Im new so please let me know if its to much to handle dont want to be on CNN as a lost climber. Lastly what is entailed in "checking in" after the climb. I remember from Hood that they made us fill out our permits but I dont remember how all of it went. Do you tear the permit like a raffle ticket were the park service keeps half and you bring back the other half to signify you are not still on the mountain? Thanks, Shawn