1. I got the info on the Edwards line off this old thread where you mention "not previously reported, guy edwards and a friend climbed the gully between sumallo and rideout in winter '93 or '94"
2. I don't know what you mean "the next gully left"? Any gully left of the Rideout/Sumallo gully would take you to summit of Rideout NOT Sumallo but there DOES look to be a mean ice route in the works RIGHT of the Rideout/Sumallo gully -- this is visible as half formed daggers in the photo above. Maybe this is it. prob WI4 at least??
3. The ski in took us abt 2.5 hrs. yeah, i guess this is not "easy" in midwinter when it would be 11km, not 6 km, but still doable, no?