Shallow snow at lower and mid elevations was saturated to the ground and quite soft in places by mid afternoon. Found myself post-holing to the ground in wet knee-deep snow. Looked like it was more supportable in the morning judging by a set of recent tracks in North Hell's Canyon. The Maple Bench Road is still snow covered in places up high and very muddy. I parked near the forest boundary and walked through patchy snow and mud until I could put my skis on.