Conditions can be harsh. Expect deep snow, rain, freezing rain, ice and bitter temperatures. Temperatures can range from well below 0 degrees to 30's, occasionally warmer. Getting lost can be easy. The white blazes that mark the trail can disappear in deep snow or in windy conditions.
Sudden storms can obliterate any sign of the trail.
Some local dirt roads that cross the trail are closed in winter. Not all trailhead parking areas are plowed. Some sections of the trail are rarely traveled in winter. Leantos can be full of snow and ice. Doors on lodges can be buried or iced shut.