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Warning!

Warning!

Really?  A treasure chest hidden in the Rocky Mountains? Just solve the clues in his poem.

About six weeks ago, I first visited Forrest Fenn’s  Old Santa Fe Trading Company’s website.  I read the poem: The Thrill of the Chase.  I read some of Forrest Fenn’s other writings.  I consulted a map.

What happened next?  (i.e., where has the last month gone?!?!?)

I drove to the new BassPro Shop and bought a large map of Yellowstone.  Oh, yeah.  The hidden treasure chest has got to be near the Sheepeater‘s.  Piece of cake.  Oh, wait.  Maybe it’s by that waterfall in the south of the park.  No wait.  Check out this road in Idaho.  Then again, eastern Wyoming’s looking good.  Just how far east do the Rocky Mountains go???  And north.  Would Mr. Fenn have gone all the way to British Columbia, Alaska even?   Colorado and Utah also have promise.  {Forrest Fenn has since narrowed it down to Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, or New Mexico.}

So, then, naturally I decided to order the book. TTOTC book jacket Good thing I didn’t wait.  There were only 389 or so copies left.  I buzzed through it once, and am in the process of studying it now.  Along with the armloads of library books I carry home.

Then, I started following Dal’s blog:  The Thrill of the Chase.  And Richard’s.  See the Official TOTC Resource page at Old Santa Fe Trading Co. (http://www.oldsantafetradingco.com/the-thrill-resource-page ) Thank you all.

Don’t worry fellow chasers.  I haven’t been out west for 8 or 10 years, and I’ve never even been to New Mexico or Arizona.  My searches will lie from Colorado north, only because I’m  slightly more familiar with the northern tier of states.

Also, don’t worry about my revealing overly helpful hints.  Until the treasure is found, this blog will be very general in nature.  After all, I hope to get in an actual search myself.  Someday.  (Update:  First Attempt)  (2nd Trip West)

Once the treasure is in someone’s hands, we can post stories and pictures from the paths that our interpretations of the poem led us down, actual and imagined.  I’m up to about twenty very fitting solutions myself, though I won’t be attempting all of them.  Not a fan of the grizzly bear, rattlesnakes, flying, and altitude, it turns out.

Forrest Fenn's Treasure Chest

Forrest Fenn’s Treasure Chest

Also, you might like to reveal all the awesome solutions and hints you’ve discovered hidden in the layers of Mr. Fenn’s writings.  Well, not just yet, maybe . . . .

In the meantime, look for journal entries sparked by what the chase has stirred up, uncovered, revealed, inspired. (BTW, all photography {except Forrest’s} is mine unless otherwise noted–even that taken with a Brownie once upon a time. You can share (but not for profit) if you give credit. Thanks.)

So who is Forrest Fenn?

A Master of Education?

An Architect?

Archaeologist?  And maybe a Matchmaker.

Get a glimpse of the man by watching Dal’s Santa Fe Interviews.  Here’s one about Fenn, the pilot.

{Fear of flying? Here is an example of the opposite kind of flyer.  I can relate.}

Mr. Fenn signing my TTOTC.

Mr. Fenn signing my TTOTC.

83 thoughts on “Home”

    • hello…if the links are said to be 8.25 miles….where are they startign from? his home…to ending point…or he never left his home???/but he has said that its not on his property.

      Reply

    • Here is the one-picture solution using the poem-as-a-map, as instructed:
      https://www.dropbox.com/preview/Public/Using%20the%20Poem%20as%20Map.jpg?role=personal
      Here are the Google Maps coordinates where you CAN see the actual blaze, the “nn” painted on top of that large flat boulder: 36.6355, -106.2105
      Open Google Maps, type in coordinates, then switch to Satellite mode, then zoom to the highest magnification.
      I know that everyone is really surprised to see the location! As known, not many (maybe 3 or 4 people) were searching here along the Vallecitos RIo. It now becomes obvious that in the REAL world (not the imaginary world of the poem) that the clue LOCATIONS on land are not consecutive, not contiguous, and not chronological. Also the clue locations are not even in close proximity to each other, being separated by 60 to 170 miles.
      . – – – – –

      Reply

    • Thanks, Dal. I was lucky. The heavy rains had pushed a couple of them on edge even. The two complete ones were new to me. Snapped bases were uncommon where I’m from, about a hundred thirty miles from my current site. Then again, I showed one that was new to the experts south of here an hour, a Fox Valley point.

      Reply

  3. Welcome to the “Riddlers”, the Coyote is smiling. I am a fellow Navigator/WSO of the F-4 era. I was in WW Vietnam 2 years after Forrest left. Been involved in F-111 and F-15E training since 1988. The Chase is consuming and a many layered quest. You have found that our already. Estacado AKA Buzz Gillis

    Reply

    • Dina,
      I love your site. The variety, photos, books, even book fairies! What fun. I especially like the picture of the little girl reading the tome on your Beloved Books page.
      Vielen danke fur Ihr besuchen. (???) [Was I even close?]

      Reply

      • Very close! 🙂 The pic of the little girl reading is taken from the film “I am DIna”, it’s beautiful, isn’t it? It goes right to my heart; she cannot read, she is sort of counting the words. Thanks a lot for looking into it! It’s highly appreciated.
        Love and a big hug to you ♥
        Dina

    • Maybe I’ve got adult ADHD. Or maybe I’m just easily bored.
      You’ve got quite the adventures. I’ll enjoy them vicariously—too claustrophobic to scuba dive. Snorkeling works though.

      Reply

  14. Thank you for liking my post “A Fallen Comet”, else I wouldn’t have had the chance to find your blog.Thanks for the wonderful posts and photos!

    Reply

  18. Thanks for liking my post and good luck with your chase. It reminds me of a similar chase which happened in England following Kit Williams book Masquerade.

    Reply

  21. I love your blog, I read the poem The Thrill of The Chase back in March. I am not pursuing the treasure at this point in time but I have considered the clues. I don’t have time for a treasure hunt of this magnitude at this point of my life. My spare time is pre occupied with the hunt for gold and gems that nature will allow me to find. I will frequent you blog. To all who seek this treasure good luck. I think I figured out another clue from your blog, thanks for the inspiration.

    Reply

  23. Thanks for liking my post “Moose at Night”. If your chase leads you up to Canada let me know, and I’ll tell you where you can drive to find your own moose to avoid. Or would that be meese? 😉

    Reply

  24. WOWWWW …. This was great … You are an outdoorsman? Safe to assume? You mentioned the Rocky Mountains, but I realize that could mean a number of places. I live at 8800 feet in the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains … in Clear Creek County. Well, I will try to get back soon … T

    Reply

  25. In a perfect world we would meet and travel by caravan. On the other hand it might be fun to just all meet at a hotel off of the plaza in Santa Fe and share stories about our lives and talk freely about our searches like the knights of old or prospectors around the campfire, but with kingsized pillow top beds to rest our late in life heads. I estimate that the book and treasure hunters have poured tourist bucks into the economy to cover the value of the treasure several times over hinting the state should allow him to live tax free. More importantly the help he and the book people give for cancer patients is such a compassionate mission, God should give him another life extention. My grandmother said that living in that part of the country, walking in the mountains and drinking hot water with lemon kept her living much longer than she or anyone expected. We have all been blessed by Mr Fenn and his wonderful family for their stories, lessons of selfless service to others and especially his teachers that managed to get some learning into him to write such a great poem.

    Reply

  28. Wow! From what i have seen on this first visit to your blog…Well done! Great work. Thank you so much for visiting and following my own; its much appreciated my friend. HNY!
    Bob

    Reply

  30. Wow! What a small world! You visited my blog, and I visit yours, only to find you are a seeker of the Fenn Treasure! What a coincidence! I have read and analyzed the poem and had the most delight trying to unlock the location of the treasure. Good luck!

    Reply

  31. Hi. The following is the location of the treasure. Please do not bother the man. Go at night, take a flashlight, don’t say a word. Just take it and leave. Do not try to go speak with him, you will be shooed off the property. They’ll probably call the cops.

    The treasure hasn’t been found, and will not be found, because the treasure is in the pond at his home. He controls who comes in and out.

    Starting at the southwestern border of Santa Fe, near the Airport (he was a fighter pilot), find Aqua Fria (warm water halts where cold water begins). Follow it up to Government Plaza, where numerous Browns have held the judge’s seat. Leave Government Plaza to the southeast, taking Canyon Dr. South. As you near the end of Canyon Dr, you will pass a church (meek). Continue down Canyon, but do NOT follow the Santa Fe River up Upper Canyon Dr. The only thing up there is reservoirs and the only road in the area that allows Semi Trucks (heavy loads). Continue past the schools (wise), to Camino Del Monte Sol (Blaze #1), look down to Santa Fe Trail (trail BLAZE #2). Mr. Fenn’s home is right there. If you notice, his home is bordering on a forest. Which is the definition of “a wood.” When you see the pond, just go in. Don’t knock on his door, don’t talk to anyone. Just go in, take the chest and leave.

    Most people look at the map and say this is not North of Santa Fe, but it IS. North and True North differ by about 9 degrees, based on Fenn’s map. Therefore, shooting an azimuth of 90 degrees + the 9 degree declination, anything ABOVE this line is “North.”

    Fenn has said the treasure is 66,000 links North of Santa Fe. 66,000 links is a surveyor’s measurement, equaling 8.5 miles.

    The route above is just above 8.5 miles, and takes you directly to his home.

    He said he was taking his treasure with him when he died, and that the treasure is where he wanted to die. He sold his multi-million dollar art gallery in Santa Fe to build a home in… Santa Fe. Why not move? He was 60-70 years old when he sold. When I’m 60-70, I’m moving where I want to die.

    Now… when you get there, you have to start at the beginning. Fenn’s biggest memory was skinny dipping in the warm springs of Wyoming. Then later, he discusses how his family would never go in with him.

    “As I have gone IN there alone.” He didn’t say he went to A PLACE, he said he went IN somewhere. You can go IN a: cave, lake, stream, pond…

    “I’ve done it tired and now I’m weak.” Tired can also be used to say you’ve done something over and over again and now that he’s 80, he doesn’t have the strength to jump in a cold pond anymore.

    Reply

      • I went, tried to speak with him, got shooed away with threats of calling the cops by some gentlman. Fenn stood on the porch and didn’t say a word, except to what looked like his daughter, who he told to “stay out of it.”

        I’m 100% sure the chest is in his pond, but I’m also not going back for it. The guy getting me to leave said, “It’s his legacy…” I thought about it, and he’s right. I’d rather have his great grandchildren to find it. People like us will never have the same love of that stuff as Forrest, or hopefully, his lineage.

  32. Seems to me that hiding it in the pond would tarnish his reputation a bit, and therefore be an unlikely place for the treasure. I’m new to the hunt and heading out to Sante Fe area in July 2016 for 3-4 days. I’m also in the process of piecing together a few solves. Nothing solid yet but I’m still working through the book, a few maps, and a few other sources. I’m convinced that this poem is far simpler than most give him credit for. I think he placed it in a fishing hole of sorts, which would be very easy for one person to hide, but very difficult to find. I will hone in a few potential places. Hopefully I’m water high and heavy loads next year. If anyone would like to possibly join me, feel free to shoot me a message and we can discuss more. -Ricky

    Reply

      • thank you, greatly appreciated! Although i have full body insulated waders for surf fishing stripers in November in new jersey, i will not be bringing them for my july trip. i think this is a swimming trip. general question for the forum, will underwater metal detectors be effective? if so, what type should i be purchasing or renting specifically?

  33. MineLab has a nice underwater detector, I use it on the beaches around the Ches. Bay in Md. I plan to hit AC with it some time.

    I have been having some fun checking out the Poem and old maps. I do like to come up with possible solutions but right now don’t like the idea of encountering a snake that rattles.

    Reply

  34. Well Mr.Fenn I’ll be there looking for it too real soon I’ll bring it to you soon lol.

    Reply

  37. I wonder if a dialysis patient could find,and I’m a Texas boy I’m only 39 but I move probably about like an 80yr old I think I got a leg up on the comp

    Reply

    • If you plan carefully (and have backup plans,cause, ya know, stuff happens) and or a trusted search partner) why not? And, if not, the dreaming and speculating is fun.

      Reply

  38. Forrest please don’t listen to them on calling off the hunt.It only took me 7months to decipher your poem .I went to where it is but on that evening I was in a car accident that they wrote me off for dead before being air lifted and a million to one chances of surviving 2 off 6 surgeries that was needed and I surprised them all and surprisingly I know that 38 days after I was there close to it you were there checking on it. I went back to the area but it was under 10 ft of snow , I am going back real soon to retrieve it,so don’t let anyone tell you to call it off.I can say you are right when you say it is an easy hike to it and everyone is over thinking it and making harder than what it is. I believe that if you just sit back and leave it alone and don’t give any more clues maybe people will start using their brains before going out looking for it and do more research

    Reply

  39. I would really like to talk to Mr. Fenn , he has the right idea of helping people . We ALL have a chance to riches if we get up and out to go looking for it . You get nothing by doing nothing. Thank you Mr.Fenn for your inspiration to us all.

    Reply

    • thats the problem cant contact him as i believe i know where it is and in thru my research i have found no one thinkin the same

      Reply

      • I keep saying the same thing, but am sure others have some idea what FF means within his poem. I have My solve as does everyone else. Just need to get out there in 2019 if no one has found it yet and check My location.

  43. I’ve been agonizing over this poem for roughly 2 weeks now. My Heart is in the hunt until it’s time to get off my comfy couch. Good luck to all, be safe and I’ll be in the chase maybe about July too. Be Blessed

    Reply

  44. I don’t have the resources to journey that far on a whim I would say the end is where the beaver worked tirelessly to build his home of pine and sagebrush that’s where I guessing thanks for your service for our country

    Reply

  46. I believe it was found in New Mexico. Not far from the Gallery of Forrest Fenn! No heavier load than the Nuke. Forrest was said to have a Sense of humor. I had a spot to look at in mind for a retirement trip. No paddle up your Creek, been up S. .t Creek a time or to with no paddle. Look at the Nuke spot and a water treatment right by a beautiful park. A building in the Nuke site was known, as I read the Brown house?

    Reply

    • For those who must have the answers, here is the one-picture solution: https://www.dropbox.com/s/u6pbe4edgs96g4j/Using%20the%20Poem%20as%20Map.jpg?dl=0 First you had to find the “right” triangle as shown on the front cover of Too Far to Walk. This was found by drawing lines on Google Maps between the 4 map points given in the poem: Waters Canyon, CO; Marvel, CO; Angel Fire, NM (blaze#1), and Casa Marron, NM (home of Brown). Second, you cut out the poem and placed it as directed in Stanza 2 of the poem, with top right corner placed (“Begin it) on the CO/NM border, and the poem body then turned south toward the Rio Grande Canyon (“canyon down”), then the lower left corner of the poem put in below Casa Marron. The blaze#2 in the poem then points to coordinates 36.6355, -106.2105 The chest was in New Mexico in the Carson National Forest. Two of the important clues are in Colorado, one clue location is on the CO/NM border, and three clues are in New Mexico. The remaining 3 clues are not really needed but serve as fillers and padding to make the poem the right length. It was important to keep the poem the same size and shape as the original, so the poem could be used as a map. The clue locations ON LAND in the real world are not close together, are not consecutive, not contiguous, and not chronological. You really did not have to find where warm waters (Waters because Waters Canyon was named after Mrs. Waters who lived there in the early days) halt first. That turned out to be misleading, because if you started with home of Brown, you could use the poem-as-map and the edge of the right triangle to reverse-engineer and determine where warm waters halted. The blaze#3 was not visible with Google Maps until 2016, when the resolution increased enough to see it. You can still see it (blaze#3) at: 36.6355, -106,2105. – – – –

      Reply

  47. Here is the one-picture solution using the poem-as-a-map, as instructed:
    https://www.dropbox.com/s/2tvvd87ec2nad47/Using-Poem-as-Map.pdf?dl=0
    Here are the Google Maps coordinates where you CAN see the actual blaze, the “nn” painted on top of that large flat boulder: 36.6355, -106.2105
    Open Google Maps, type in coordinates, then switch to Satellite mode, then zoom to the highest magnification.
    I know that everyone is really surprised to see the location! As known, not many (maybe 3 or 4 people) were searching here along the Vallecitos RIo. It now becomes obvious that in the REAL world (not the imaginary world of the poem) that the clue LOCATIONS on land are not consecutive, not contiguous, and not chronological. Also the clue locations are not even in close proximity to each other, being separated by 60 to 170 miles.
    . – – – – –

    Reply

  48. You know there’s a lot of talk about forest fans treasure being found is there anybody ever thought there’s more than one box he made two trips. The box that they show currently is larger than 10 x 10 and has plates in them that’s larger than 10 x 10 yes want to force fan boxes have been found but not both of them. Has anybody ever thought force wanted one to be found so people would quit looking for the other he wanted the other box we found 500 or 1000 years later so he could be remembered then to

    Reply

  49. Has anybody ever thought now that forces found treasure has been found that we’ve only found one of the treasure chest. Forest fan has stated he went in there twice. Has anybody noticed that the plates it come out of the box are bigger than 10 x 10 which indicates there’s two boxes. Is there anybody ever thought that forest fan wall in one box found so that people would quit looking for the other one. Also force wanted to be remembered 1000 years from now what better way to do that but to have two boxes

    Reply

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