No skins or snowshoes, I would stay lower. The hike itself is not terrible, but when you add in snow it can become quite the challenge. Mazama Ridge is just one of the zones in the Paradise area. If you are totally familiar and comfortable with bootpacking in the middle of winter, then go for it. However, if you don't feel like hiking for hours on end just to board down a 20-30 minute ride, I would find a nice spot at lower elevation and just play there. This is what me and my friends do when we hike up at Paradise. Muir is to far away for us since we don't have skins or snowshoes. There are plenty of cliffs and rocks and open pow fields without going all the way to Muir.
