So, the poem Forrest Fenn wrote contains 9 clues. Just what they are has been debated. There are 6 stanzas, 9 sentences, 24 lines, and one question in The Thrill of the Chase. How to tackle it? Hmmm.
Followers of Fenn have taken to using shorthand: WWWH = where warm waters halt; HOB = home of Brown
Where to begin?
Begin it where (WWWH.)
If you can figure that out, take it in the (canyon) down.
How far? (Not far, but too far to walk.)
(Put in) below the (HOB.)
Then, it’s (no place for the meek,) the end is (ever drawing nigh), and so on.
You have to decide what (no paddle up your creek) means, and just what are (heavy loads) and (water high).
And, of course, what’s a (blaze)? That might be easier than (tarry scant) and (marvel gaze.)
Decisions, decisions. In any case, always go back to the poem. FF said not to change any of it.
The Fenn Diagrams 
Everyone of course inter pates the meaning of the poem differently. Literally, figuratively and Forrest Fennly. Last year I started out with the outhouse theory. Home of Brown, up S#*T creek, a S#*T LOAD, etc….. Forrest said it is not in a outhouse. BUT….I believe the clue was the crescent moon on a outhouse door. In the book at the very end, is a drawing of a dove(which I believe are only in N.M. and Colorado) nesting on a crescent moon. It is looking at the guy with a ax who is looking at the dove with a look of, “I’m sorry, but it had to be done”. If the guy was a fire fighter, it is a common practice to cut a fire line. Look at the stumps. Are they really stumps?
That’s all I’m saying for now, but remember the dove is a symbol for peace, “go in peace”. Good Luck Yall” !
Well here is my shot at the poem and how I figured where it might be:
Begin at CANYON lake
And take it down
Not far,but FARLEY creek
Put in below the rusty brown; home of the grizzly bear.
Near Cooke City, MT is THE Beaten path, well used and known fishing trail with various lakes. Off the beaten path is Fox lake where it might be.
Canyon lake flows into Farley creek and Farley creek flows into Fox Lake. Fox Lake soil is full of iron and looks rusty brown.
There are other clues in the poem. Like There’ll be no paddle up your creek. Your may refer to RUSSELL creek. Russell creek is named after Osborne Russell Fenn’s childhood hero from the Journal of a fur trader…. one of Fenn’s stories in the book.
All the clues I’ve found all seem to point into Fox Lake.
No place for the meek = week. Does take a small trail to get to Fox Lake
The end is drawing nigh. Nigh is near and left (left of an animal to be precise) i.e. Left of Fox lake
And all that… the blaze… well that’s something you’ll have to find when you get there.
why is it that everything i am reading NOT ONE PERSON IS STARTING AT THE BEGINNING..how can one start part way through? he fished alone, was in planes alone, in his car alone…
Alone in the wood, alone in a cave with enough water for trout? Alone in the park? I don’t think he fished alone all the time, he explored with Donnie Joe, and fished with his family. I love the humor Forrest has, and like him, I grew up with other people making fun of me, I was poor, I was the middle child, my mother worked in the school system, I love Montana and Wyoming. My boyfriend was born in Dillon, MT, but he moved to Alabama at 14 years old. He brought his family West every year to see his dad in Montana, and his mother in Idaho (now in Arizona). The kids just were not interested. After his divorce, we met and he has carried me west 4 times and I asked him, “you moved to Alabama why?” We are headed to Yellowstone again this July. We have only known about the treasure for a month, but just by reading The Thrill of the Chase, I have found several hints. Such as how many times he mentions a railroad and a cemetary.
thanks
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 4 or 5 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.
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