The Treasures of Forrest Fenn
How a cRYPTIC poem led thousands on a MODERN-DAY Hunt for HIDDEN Treasures.
I recently uncovered a beautifully poetic cache.
Searching for buried treasure is not an activity that we often relate to in our modern society. Right?
But for the last decade, that’s exactly what many thousands of people have been doing.
New Mexico art dealer Forrest Fenn (August 22, 1930 - September 7, 2020) sparked this frenzied hunt with the publication of a poem in his autobiography, Thrill of the Chase. In the poem, Fenn assured, were nine clues to the location of a treasure chest containing gold, precious jewels, and ancient artifacts somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, valued at approximately 2 million dollars.
The eccentric Fenn, a retired combat fighter pilot and archaeologist, wanted to encourage others to pursue their passions of life, and welcome wherever they may lead them.
His memoir contained short stories, pictures, and snapshots of defining moments from his life.
A dedicated website entitled Fenns Treasure said of the loot:
“This chest weighs around 45 pounds and contains over 22 troy pounds of gold, jewels, and other ancient artifacts.”
You can read the poem and try to identify his nine clues here:
As I have gone alone in there
And with my treasures bold,
I can keep my secret where,
And hint of riches new and old.Begin it where warm waters halt
And take it in the canyon down,
Not far, but too far to walk.
Put in below the home of Brown.From there it’s no place for the meek,
The end is drawing ever nigh;
There’ll be no paddle up your creek,
Just heavy loads and water high.If you’ve been wise and found the blaze,
Look quickly down, your quest to cease,
But tarry scant with marvel gaze,
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 answer 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.
Below are the map and clues provided by Fenn.
Picture: Benchmark Maps/Courtesy of Forrest Fenn.
Since the search began in 2010, many thousands of hunters had gone out in pursuit. At least five of them had lost their lives in the process as the chase became an international story. Fenn personally estimated that over 350,000 people looked for the chest.
The Fenn’s Treasures website now notifies all visitors that the chest was found in 2020 in Wyoming.
In the same year, Fenn appeared to have died of natural causes, according to the Santa Fe Police Department, just three months after he confirmed that someone had finally found the cache.
Fenn originally planned to have his treasures buried alongside his remains after receiving a diagnosis of kidney cancer. However, after recovery, he launched his treasure hunt.
In The Thrill of the Chase, Finn noted that the treasures were ensconced somewhere in the Rockies at 5,000 feet above sea level.
“Begin it where warm waters halt,” one tip claimed, “and take it in the canyon down.” Fenn stated that he possessed no other motivation for starting the hunt than to encourage families to “get off their couches.”
While the treasure hunter who solved the puzzle came forward, he notes that if he had it to do all over again, he would have stayed anonymous.
Mr. Finn passed away September 7 at the age of 90. The exact location of the found treasures still remains a mystery.
Do you have treasures of your own tucked away? As a kid, I once held a cache of collectibles in a brass-and-wooden box. It’s a memory I once wrote about in my poem Open When Ready.
I also publish my poetry through Wild Words, which delivers one new poem, once a week – nothing more, nothing less. You can subscribe to each of these newsletters below. Thanks! Jason
