You said -- "Common sense dictates to train in conditions that will best simulate the actual event. Mt Hood ( 11,245 ft.) pales in comparison to Mt. Everest (29,028 ft.)"
While thousands have climbed Mt. Hood, since the late 1800s and had a very easy time of it -- I'm sure that these present climbers (in the article) were climbing Mt. Hood for some training that it gave them. Aren't they headed for Mt. Everest?
Regards,
Star Traveler