We took a break here while some people went to the end of the passage in one direction to see what was around the St. Louis Limestone corner.  Once everyone came back, we continued down into the formation room.  This room had some very interesting artifacts. There were helicmite's and Helictite's on shelves over our heads along with another interesting feature that still has been pondering what it is exactly.  Right before ourselves is a formation a column of sorts that appears to be reconnected.  Furthermore 2 shelf stone tables on the formation below, might show evidence where an old waterline use to be.  The formation is something I have never seen before and peaks my interest to understand how this was actually formed. I have more pics on my flickr account.

We continued down to the 45 ft domes that were next to each other and made it to the other end of the upper passage. We took another break and shortly after that, we proceeded into the maze and into the maze dome room, where the passage got interesting.  There was a dome to climb into that had a hole in the ground which lead to another dome.  This dome took me to a climb where you had an option to go in three different directions.  I went in a direction that lead back around into a climb connection that was near the old upper passage which also connected to the lower stream passage.  After some small exposure climbing around the pits we came to a dome where you could continue to climb up into the top level passage.  This was like a freakin playground for cavers!!!  It reminded me of the passages in Ellison s cave but a bit smaller.  I continued on to where I came to a slot canyon.  This slot canyon had clear water but super fine mud and I can only imagine how long this water must have been sitting here for.

The water was lit up from the first waterfall and from the second waterfall which brought a beautiful perspective to this passage.  Some attempted to climb up but we mainly enjoyed the waterfalls shimmering beauty and pondered the obvious passage that was above the falls.  Next time I come back I want to see if that upper passage can be reached.

We started to head out of the cave and made it to the bathtub swim for a brief paddle across the warm 54 degree waters of Trapper Cave. Options are to either get wet from the top down or go back around, so everyone decided to thrust through the water and bolt out of the cave without any issues.  We got out of the cave and although it was cold, It could have been a lot worse. Regardless we started changing into dry clothes and made it back to the car for a space heater, beer, and festive laughs that we continued to enjoy through the night.  Unfortunately the next day we woke up and decided to head back due to the rain and snow, we made the right decision to go back when we did!  I got word later on that the caves experienced high water BUT the spotlight goes to the ride back... oh yes, the ride back home. more like an epic journey through "the taste of the north pole" leading our way back to Chiberia.   Every stop light going north went from rain, to sleet, to thick sleet, than heavy wet snow, to snow, to blowing tundra blizzard FML snow.  What a change in the weather.  We were getting reports of highways closed so we diverted our route and just made it through the lane closures as we passed by them.  While driving an average of 30 miles per hour for 230 miles, we witnessed over 10 semi trucks that were flipped over, and multiple cars that slid into the ditch.  At one time we even felt our truck being blown off the road and into the ditch but Phil and his brown 4x4 "Spirit Of Mount Prospect" prevailed!  9 hours later The Intrepid cavers make it back to Chicago safe and sound.  Along the way we had a new friend and a companion, she was a snow bitch named Matilda.  She was a strong snow woman but unfortunately after 5 minutes on the highway on the bow of the Spirit of Mount Prospects hood, she disintegrated before our very eyes  back into the winter wonderland where she came from like the dude from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade choosing "poorly" to drink out of the wrong cup.   I will never forget you Matilda.