Preparatory Work

I am going to need to do some preparatory hiking if I am to conquer Mt Rainier (which itself is a preparatory hike) this Winter. I need ideas. I need someone to hike with.

My fall-back idea is to fly out to Georgia and convince a friend/relative to hike in the North Georgia mountains with me for a Saturday. I'd carry everything.

It'd also be cool to do Half Dome, but you basically carry nothing with you on that hike (for good reason). Pikes Peak would be fun ... but I'd need to find someone willing to fly out to Colorado. Hmm.