I spent the first few days of 2013 on Mount Desert Island with over 30"of snow covering the ground, the trees, the roads, everything. I felt as if I was in Switzerland there was so much snow. I stopped at L L Bean on the way up and purchased my first pair of snow shoes. I've lived over 30 years in Maine and it was high time to go walking through snowy woods. I hiked on the Acadia carriage trails alongside cross country skiers and broke trail crashing through the woods with two enthusiastic Australian terriers. I'd heard that MDI was at its prettiest in winter and, while I still prefer summer there, I have to say it was astoundingly beautiful. And quiet.