Twenty Starved Rock Walkers (0 dogs) stepped into a Winter Wonderland by taking the West Bluff Trail out to St. Louis Canyon.

 The Stargazer sculpture next to the Lodge needed no sunscreen today.

 Leaving the Lodge you wonder, it's 23F, the wind is blowing, what am I doing!

 Then you look up and the trail sucks you into the woods!

 A trail bridge view of the Park road that steeply climbs the South Bluff, freshly salted and open to traffic.

A view down the trail stairs to the Aurora Creek bridge.

 A trail view of the Sac Creek bridge.

 A trail bridge view down the Sac Canyon waterfall to the canyon floor.

 This deer walked the entire West Bluff Trail a few hours before we did.

 The SR Walkers, all properly tractioned, on the West Bluff Trail boardwalk.

 The boardwalk sits on the rim of the South Bluff.

 A trail staircase descending...

 … next to the "watchtower" outcrop.

 The trail is now sucking us into St. Louis Canyon.

 Last night's winter storm left just under two inches of snow in the Park.

 The 83-foot St. Louis Canyon waterfall if the tallest fall in the Park.

 Most walkers have many pics of the waterfall....

 … but the ice beards next to the falls are seldom seen.

 A down canyon view of the east wall.

 Meltwater icicles on the east wall.

 Crossing the creek on these planks is always easier the second time.

 A trail bridge of sand ripples travelling down the bottom of St. Louis Creek.

 Walking in a Winter Wonderland!

 Walkers climbing out of the canyon on the Bluff Trail.

Various traction microspike prints on the bluff boardwalk. The reason why SR Walkers seldom fall!

Today's walk calls to mind a favorite quote from Sir Ranulph Fiennes,

"There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing."