Welcome Hiker412. Where in the park have you reserved your campsite?
I've not hiked Telescope in 40+ years, and it wasn't in the winter. However, expect pretty severe conditions. Crampons and poles will likely be a must, and you should not be doing the hike alone. If this is your first time to Telescope, finding the trail under snow will not be easy, particularly depending on if someone else has gone up since the last storm.
Also, and perhaps more important, the road from Charcoal Kilns to Mahagony Flats may be closed, depending on conditions. This would add an addition 3 miles each way to the hike. Generally, one should spend the night at Mahogany Flats fro altitude conditions, so not be able to get there by vehicle adds to the complexity of this hike.
OF course, we don't know your capabilities. But be aware that we get a fair number of folks on this board that don't really understand the dangers associated with the desert, whether it be from heat, cold or simply exposure and the vastness of the area. So, your answers are likely to err on the side of caution.
David Bricker / SYR
