A year ago, I set off on my first hunt for the Fenn treasure. I’d hoped to wait until I had a complete solve, but I knew that the snows come early on the northern Rockies. I was confident that the chest was hidden somewhere north and west of Yellowstone, but couldn’t rule out the rest of Wyoming, so off I wandered, with Mr. Waterhigh’s blessing (and/or his desire that I find the gold.)
I emailed Forrest from West Yellowstone and entertained him with my story of not having the right shoes at the waters at the Continental Divide in YNP.
Forrest’s response—
“You’re having too much fun.”
I next emailed him from the Gallatin Valley to wish him a Happy Birthday, and he invited me to Santa Fe for a cup of coffee.
Decision—
Hmmm?
a.) Should I stay on course and hike to a ‘water high’ with just the grizzlies for company, or
b.) should I skip my night at the hot springs, which I really wanted to visit, and set my GPS for Santa Fe?
Forrest said,
“Life’s short and getting shorter.”
Really. It was an easy choice.
Besides, I can always go back to Montana with Mr. Waterhigh.
(We spent our 24th or 25th or 26th anniversary there. Next month is our 35th, but he’s tied up this year….)
I was somewhere in Colorado before I got ahold of Mr. W to tell him of my change of plans. He suggested I pull the old Colombo thing as I was leaving. You know, pop back in the door, “Oh. Just one more question, Mr. Fenn….” and hope to catch him off guard with the perfect question.
I didn’t, of course. I was pretty much speechless….
So, I did find treasure south of the mountains when I got to meet the remarkable Forrest Fenn. All in all, it was a fantastic trip/chase.
Possibly my favorite Fennism is found in the Epilogue of his book, The Thrill of the Chase—
“And what I’ve learned that’s most important is that both countries and people should know enough to just leave other folks alone and do a better job of protecting our planet.”
— By the way, his 84th birthday is next Friday, so why not surprise him with a “Happy Birthday” wish from all 304 of you blog followers.
(He’s in the phone book, otherwise I wouldn’t post his address–
1021 Old Santa Fe Trail in Santa Fe, New Mexico)
DON’T just show up in his driveway! I’m thinking cards, flowers, chocolates, …. No wait. That’s me.
The Fenn Diagrams 