Mountain Flying-HELP!!!

Hello fellow Cherokees,
I am planning my first trip into mountainous regions, specifically North Carolina where the elevation is 3,000 MSL, and the density altitude is 5500. This trip will be in July when daytime temperatures are 30C. The runway length is 3000 ft., and of course trees everywhere. I plan to make my daily take-offs in the mid-am, and return to the field in the mid pm.

I need your experiences. My bird is a PA-28-181. I intend to carry only 25 gal of fuel as the plane is already on the heavy side (due to equipment), and max passenger weight is 450 lbs. in front seats.

What techniques have you used?
Lean mixture on take-offs, and how much? What about leaning on landings?
Deploy 1 or 2 notches of flaps at start of take-off roll, feet on the brakes, and full power, or just prior to reaching vref? I don’t know what opportunity there is for me to start my roll from the taxiway prior to taking the active runway.
What about techniques for making short field approach, though I’m not too concerned about landing on 3000 feet (and it’s uphill too).

All ideas, comments are greatly appreciated.
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