ACR SMT OVERSHOT ALT ON CLIMB.

Narrative

THIS WAS A FLT FROM COS TO ALS; CO. IT WAS NIGHT WITH A RELATIVELY HIGH CEILING; BUT WITH VERGA IN THE AREA. INEXPERIENCED F/O WHO QUALIFIED ONLY 1 MONTH PRIOR TO THIS OCCURRENCE. I DO NOT KNOW HER TOTAL IFR TIME IN ACFT TYPE. MY MIND WAS ON MANY THINGS--HER ABILITY; THE WX; A PROB THAT AROSE WITH THE MEL AND DEFERRING OF FUEL QUANTITY GAUGES; AND TFC THAT MAY BE DODGING THE VERGA IN THE AREA TO REMAIN VMC. I WAS WATCHING FOR TFC AND THE WX WHEN MY F/O NOTED HER MISTAKE. AT THE SAME TIME ATC AGAIN STATED OUR ASSIGNED ALT (11000'). I LOOKED AT MY ALTIMETER TO SEE US 600' HIGH (11600'). ATC THEN CLRED US TO 14000'. I HAD TO LOOK FAIRLY CLOSE AT MY ALTIMETER SINCE THE UPPER RIGHT HAND PORTION IS SHADED BECAUSE OF THE POS OF THE POST LIGHT. THIS; AND THE CONCERN FOR VFR TFC IS WHY I MISSED THE 1000' CALLOUT AND ALT CALL. THE LIGHTING IN THE SMT; AT LEAST OURS; IS THE WORST I HAVE EVER SEEN. IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I MISSED AN ALT THAT FELL WITHIN THAT UPPER RIGHT PORTION. I BELIEVE MY F/O WAS CONCENTRATING ON KEEPING THE ACFT UNDER CTL IN THE LIGHT-MODERATE CHOP WE WERE EXPERIENCING BECAUSE OF HER EXPERIENCE LEVEL IN THE ACFT; AND SIMPLY FORGOT THE ASSIGNED ALT. I WISH MORE COULD BE DONE TO IMPROVE LIGHTING IN OLDER ACFT TO PREVENT SHADOWS AND GLARE. ALSO; WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING YOUR ALT IN THESE INCREASINGLY CROWDED SKIES; AN ALT WARNING DEVICE REQUIREMENT THAT WOULD BE RELATIVELY INEXPENSIVE MAY HELP THESE OLDER ACFT SINCE MOST MODERN ACFT ALREADY HAVE THEM INSTALLED.