IMHO, it doesn't matter what you do, OP. I base this on my own experience over the years.
Having had a serious heart attack a little less than six weeks ago, I rode my bike today with a compact double, up a hill with a short 20% grade. I used to think I needed a triple on that hill, and that's what I rode, until I decided to stop riding my bike with a triple.
You'll get strong if you keep riding, strong enough with any of the set ups you are thinking about to surmount and summit.
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