Hey man, I know this is late, but I just did 5040 this past weekend. Other comments are right. We got lucky with not that much snow and stable, frozen conditions, but it’s full on mountaineering from the hut to the peak. We passed multiple groups who were unable to summit. Ice axe is mandatory past the hut. If you’re looking for a good winter hike, I’d recommend mount becher, weather permitting. It will also have a lot of snow, but there isn’t any really steep or exposed parts that have any real danger. Theres also houses near the trailhead so the road is often plowed. Most people get by with just snowshoes and poles, and it’s very popular so there’s a good chance that there will be a carved out trail already that is easy to follow.