Beginner Ski Mountaineering / Alpine Climbing

Hey All,

I have been working over the last year to build up a tool kit to do some beginner ski-mountaineering and Alpine climbing, Ideally a combo of both.  I have a used but reliable AT ski set-up and some nice shiny cams that I'm doing my best to break-in.  I am looking for advice on what skills beginners need to learn as well as recommendations for beginner routes that I can learn and practice these skills on. I am also curious of how others in the area have acquired these skills in the past.  Is it typical to take classes or guided lessons, are there many people that are self-taught or have learned from mentors?

I am mostly curious for my own use but I though it might also be useful to start this thread as a resource for other beginners.

Any info/advice/reccomendations or links are appreciated, Thanks Everyone!

This comes up here every few months. If you search you'll find threads with with a lot of good and questionable advice.