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Has anyone reached the summit of King's Peak in the December-February months? I have gone up in March several times but conventional wisdom has always been to go up in spring instead of Winter. What are the drawbacks from going in January? The cold?

What are the drawbacks from going in January? The cold?

Short days and powdery snow are the biggest obstacles.

I've been up there in January, but we didn't make the summit. I have climbed up Flat Top Mountain (west side of Henrys Fork) in January though.

Climbing the peak is possible in January is certainly possible and it has been done then; it's just a bit harder with the powdery snow and short days.

If this winter continues the way it is going, it won't be any colder than in March. I just did Tokewanna, and the temperatures were quite balmy for January. Very cold (zeroish) early in the mornings, but above freezing by mid day. The snow was thick and heavy and trail breaking was slow.

The two biggest drawbacks in general are lack of daylight and poorly consolidated snow that leads to knee deep collapses. Just the two week difference from mid March to the end of March makes a big difference in snow consolidation.

You have only seen the Kings Peak route after it has been broken by the Swansons and others. It would be very tough to do it in one day even at the end of March without all the prior trail breaking. However, your being thin is a tremendous asset.

Doing Kings Peak right now by the traditional Swanson's route would be problematic as the snow levels aren't high enough to cover all the crap in the creek bed.