whats up guys, new to the forum and considering myself new to climbing, i've been training in the gym and proficient at v5 - 5.11 climbing. a few years back i climbed shasta but have lacked much experience since in the forum of mountaineering.  
  
 i have a small list of training hikes planned as well as some pretty basic summits planned for the summer. in two week a buddy and i plan to skin up the south side of mt hood to the summit but i have a few questions you guys maybe able answer.  
  
at what point do you normally stop skinning and put on the crampons on the route , and how necessary is it to rope up to reach the summit?  
  
i look forward to contributing to this forums as much as i can, and already appreciate the bank of knowledge to guys/and gals , produce! 
  
CHEERS! 
  
Eric