Don't drain your above-ground pool all the way.

No. You want to lower the water level just below the skimmer and return lines, not empty the pool. A mostly empty pool can collapse or blow out of the ground if the water table rises or if ice expands.

The real work is: skim, vacuum, balance the chemicals (shock it, add algaecide, then a winterizing chemical kit), and blow out the lines with a shop vac before plugging them. Then drain the pump and filter, store them inside if you can. Cover it tight with an above-ground pool cover and an air pillow under the center to handle ice pressure.

Don’t skip the line blow-out – a cracked return line is a spring headache you don’t want.