One of the reasons why I like snow on the mountains:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCsuf5Zpwxg&feature=related
But seriously, nice answer Hikin Jim. I've been up SanG all times of the year (love winter the most) and we used to go up every January full moon weekend for X-country ski at night so we didn't have to change waxes much and it is just so awsome in the moon light. Different years had different conditions. Sometimes the skiing was crap and crampons were the ticket. Sometimes waist deep snow lower elevations and wind pack hard snow/ice higher up requiring crampons and skis or shoeshoes (carry ice axe regardless).
I would recommend either skis or snowshoes if you just want to go in aways and if your goal is to summit, carry crampons and axe regardless of snow lower down.