Indication
Sign
A loitering mountain king in the winter is an indication or sign of something to come.
ちょう
しるし
None
When you spot a loitering mountain king in the winter, you know it's an indication that soon Mrs. Chou (ちょう) will appear. It's like a Groundhog's Day kind of situation, but instead it means Mrs. Chou is about to come out, perhaps early for the season.