The Ultimate Guild Challenge... $1,000,000 payoff....
by
So in the Aug issue of Newsweek, there's a pretty cool article about a guy named Forrest Fenn, a "modern day Indiana Jones".
Long story short, he's hidden a lockbox with $1,000,000 worth of artifacts somewhere in the mountains north of Santa Fe. And he left NINE clues in this poem... (my thoughts in parenthesis)
As I have gone alone in there (physical access, not by helicopter)
And with my treasures bold,
I can keep my secret where,
And hint of riches new and old. (Old mining area?)
Begin it where warm waters halt (hot spring?)
And take it in the canyon down,
Not far, but too far to walk. (paddle? No trail access?)
Put in below the home of Brown. (Actual person? Brown referring to Indians? "Put in" is a term used for canoes or kayaks, maybe a town where someone famous Brown came from?)
From there it's no place for the meek,
The end is ever drawing nigh;
There'll be no paddle up your creek, (fast moving water? No need for paddles?)
Just heavy loads and water high. (waterfall? Elevation gain?)
If you've been wise and found the blaze, (Blaze, mark on something? Old burned area? Wise, Owls? Or YY's?)
Look quickly down, your quest to cease, (Cliff? Something at your feet?)
But tarry scant with marvel gaze, (Tarry...Tar? Pitch?)
Just take the chest and go in peace.
So why is it that I must go
And leave my trove for all to seek?
The answers I already know,
I've done it tired and now I'm weak.
So hear me all and listen good,
Your effort will be worth the cold.
If you are brave and in the wood
I give you title to the gold.
Surely with the brain trust around here, this thing can be cracked. I know winter is coming quick, which limits time, but I was planning on taking 6 months to do the Appalachian Trail next year. Wouldn't mind kicking around the mountains of New Mexico instead....
The guy obviously wants it found, else he wouldn't have left the poem as a clue.
As for the poem, since he's using a simple A,B,A,B scheme, it might be safe to say that one line may be important, but the other might be a throwaway, because he was just looking for a rhyme to fit. Example:
And with my treasures bold,
with
And hint of riches new and old.
The second line may be important but the first is a throwaway because he just needed something to rhyme with old. Or vice-versa. And if that assumption is correct, then it's a good bet that the non throwaway word is actually really important. Or not. Heh.
This could be kinda fun. Who doesn't like a treasure hunt?
