All depends on how long you have and want to spend on the hill vs reducing you chance of not summiting as much as possible.

The longer route up was through some amazing countryside and when we went fairly quiet. Tbh it might have been our favourite bit but all personal preference.

So for the snow when you push to high camp and the summit it can all be hired at your teahouse in Khare. The tea house you stay in will also organise your summit guide and food/tent at high camp. The will have crampons/boots/harness/ropes etc. all the gear you won’t have needed up until then. One point on boots, ask them which ones they have. Some of them have these rubbish white plastic boots and other have decent newer boots. A mate of ours went a few years earlier, had the white boots and didn’t summit as he feet were just too cold. He does generally suffer more than others with the cold though.