Then you aren't familiar with Himalayan mountaineering history because that's the exactly the kind of thing that has been debated for years now.Well,I don't think that the people in Nepal including climbers, guides and sherpas would argue over the definition of a winter ascent all day.
Winter ascent dates are highly argued among Himalayan mountaineers. Part of the reason is because the Eastern Europeans and Russians use the definition of December 1 through February 28 (or 29th on a leap year), Americans use the calendar winter, and the Nepalese government uses December 1 through February 15, but there has been talk of Nepalese Government invalidated summits before the solstice. Some historians divide the lists into different lists with different criteria. Of course that's a whole different topic that has already been discussed many times, even on 14ers.com. If you really wanted to read into this further, there are several books available on Himalyan mountaineering history.Among some of the Sherpa climbers, even more debated are speed ascents. Perhaps the most famous rivals disputing each other's ascents are Pemba Dorjee Sherpa and Lhakpa Gelu Sherpa. The Nepalese Government makes the final call, but it doesn't mean they don't debate it even after the government rules in one or the other's favor.
Then again, I see no need to derail the thread further.
