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Jim:
These are great questions. At 6-8 weeks out from the main goal of the training everyone, regardless of their aerobic base (ADS or not) must begin to add the kind of event-specific high-intensity training to the program. For mountaineers the most effective type of this sort of training is the uphill weighted ME you’re doing. So you must keep doing these ME sessions on the stair machine regardless of your HR getting into the 180s.
1) Pushing this higher HR does not matter, as long as your legs feel that low-grade continuous burn. Your legs are getting the desired training effect.
2) It is fine to add some more Z1-2 volume in the week as long as you can handle it from the time and energy standpoints.
3) Stair Masters allow you to climb at a nearly 100% gradient. This is very different than most outside steep hills. Once you get over about 40% outside, you will encounter limitations like balance, and feet sliding down the hill. These make it much harder to get the consistent ME work you are getting on the Machine. So the progression is not the same inside as outside.
You can progress your ME training by noting your vertical climb each workout. You should be seeing noticeable gains in vert each ME session. You can also add weight if 62lb begins to feel too easy. But I doubt that is the case.
Keep this up and you will be feeling much stronger on the hills than you ever have.
Scott