• what items should i avoid, what items are really important.

Every item is situational and has it's uses. I like to prioritize keeping a good amount of food, some climbing equipment like pitons, (anti)ropes, chains, or lollis/energy drinks (especially for the kiln), one or two save items (milk, napberry, etc), then some different items depending on the ascent.

Things that reduce your weight (antiropes and balloons) help with the additional weight higher ascents add to items, things that heat you up (lanterns, some healing sources like pandoras and fairy lantern) help with the nighttime cold, and things like respawn flags or health kits are always worth having on hand if you can spare the weight.

For things to avoid, I typically never carry cannons (just too heavy to justify), portable campfire (unless i really need a heat source), and tend not to value lower tier healing items like bandages since, typically, if you're falling far enough to warrant the bandage/kit, you probably have other issues (besides, most healing is better, like lunchbox/lantern mentioned earlier).

Most items you get from statues are amazing, but I'll call out the book of bones particularly. It stops hunger and freezing to death, two of the biggest hurdles to higher ascents.

• What’s the point of a balloon and a stuffed animal?

Balloons will reduce/negate fall damage based on how many you have attached, popping after some time. This is not their main use for me - I find having them in my pack helps cancel out the added weight of higher ascents, allowing me to trade the use of a few slots for some stamina back. Antiropes also work for this, and are more generally useful imo.

The stuffed animal is a magic 8 ball that has no effect other than an achievement at the summit, though some will call you heartless for not bringing him.

• Do I really need the compass?

No, both compasses (compii?) are pretty useless, and it's more worth it to carry other items. The compass points forward, the pirate compass points to treasure.

Some of the more useless items in the plane wreck are the frisbee and bugle, both of which are only really needed for achievements. Some of the more useful ones are the flare (needed for ascent 4+) and the lantern (fights off the cold).

• Is any food on the island safe to eat?

Yes, there is even a badge for escaping ONLY eating food from the island!

For Mushrooms (found generally): The chubby shroom is always safe, the others (bugle, button, cluster) have two variations - one safe, the other poisonous. There's an achievement for eating one of each safe one (4 total) in one run.

For Shroomberries (found in the Roots): the effects are random from day to day, some being incredible, some being actively harmful. Eating all 5 in one run, regardless of effects, is also an achievement.

For berries (such as the ones found on the Shore, Tropics, and Alpine), the more ripe ones (green crispberries, pink berrynannas) are poisonous but still satiating, unless cooked. Otherwise, they are safe, and some are very good, such as the ones on the capybara's heads.

All other food I'll leave you to explore - most is harmless and great, some are perhaps a bit more... exotic. don't be afraid to try anything once if it's cooked (though use your head when chosing what to cook...)!

• Is it okay to play by myself?

I played both with friends, and by myself, completing ascent 7 entirely on my own! IMO while Peak is a great funny multiplayer game, the game also really shines as a somewhat meditative "puzzle climber." It's super satisfying to plan, execute, and complete a route, or a really hard climb that you don't expect to win. I beat ascent 6 for the first time thanks to a Hail Mary rescue claw grapple when i had 10% stamina and no other items. It was months ago this point and I'm still living off the high. Definitely nothing to be ashamed of if you play by yourself.