Did this snowshoe trip from Dan Nelson's guidebook. Clear, sunny weather. Got a late start (1pm) from the Narada Falls parking area, and having never done this trip before, made big mistake by not asking folks where the blazed regular trail begins. Should have taken that route! Instead, thought I could follow a ski track, in trees, to the left of a posted avalanche-prone very steep hill above the maintenance shed. Things were ok until about 2/3rds way up, when the snow became terrible, having no consistantcy, the top foot or so just sloughing off, sliding away in small slabs-yikes!Thought I had made a decent decision by sticking to the trees,away from the steep,open slope but instead was in quite a predicament, struggling to keep from sliding down a very steep slope studded with trees to slam into. Managed to keep my wits & slowly dug out a wider platform along the ski tracks to inch up this switchbacking path. Must have taken an hour to reach the Paradise-Stevens Canyon road that was my intended trail. Would have been well on my way to the Lakes if I had taken the normal route! Once I got atop the hill, it's a fairly flat, routine hike, and much scenery to enjoy! Of course, I broke out the guidebook after that and was reminded that my route wasn't recommended unless the snow was stable & not deep-- it pays to listen to these folks! I could have very easily slid down among those trees and really hurt myself bad-- so I'm fortunate to hopefully learn from this! Even a fairly easy outing can be trouble if you aren't careful.