Photos: Forrest Fenn
This might be my new favorite charitable cause. For those of us who still believe in humanity, 86-year-old Forrest Fenn is a veritable hero. The adventurer, art broker, self-taught archeologist, and millionaire buried a treasure of gold bullion somewhere in the Rocky Mountains in the last decade, just to try and get people outside to find it and enjoy an adventure.
Fenn, now an Indiana Jones-like folk hero, told NPR last year that he wants people to get off the couch and into the mountains. And that’s why he hid the 10-by-10-inch box filled with gold and gems somewhere between his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico and the Canadian border. The “Romanesque” box is estimated to be worth around $1 million. It’s above 5,000 feet and isn’t in a mine, graveyard or near a structure.
The clues are revealed, along with a poem, in a book Fenn self-published six years ago titled, The Thrill of the Chase. Fenn has an obsession with the hunt. And being different. The art dealer, a self-taught archaeologist and Vietnam fighter pilot describes himself thus: “I pride myself on being eccentric. I don’t want to go down the center line like a lot of people do.”
Fenn has his detractors. He’s been called a plunderer by the archeological community over some of his expeditions–and excavations. But he seems to be making up for it somewhat by inspiring people to get out there with their families and explore one of the grandest mountain ranges in the world. And an estimated tens-of-thousands have, working to crack the clues contained within Fenn’s poem. Of course there’s been a website set up to document the search. Unfortunately, the hunt took a life in 2016. Randy Bilyeu, a 54-year-old retired mechanic disappeared near the Rio Grande around Santa Fe, where authorities found his dog, his car, and a raft, so Fenn has urged caution to potential adventurers.
Brown’s Canyon Photo: Brownscanyon.org
The treasure, Fenn assures searchers, is real. And several writers and friends have corroborated his story. But that’s a lot of area to look for a 10-by-10-inch box. ‘Merica is huge. Where to start? One key stanza of the poem reads, 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.
“Put in,” is a river term referencing a spot where you get on the water. Which would line up with, “Not far, but too far to walk,” meaning it might be easy to float to on a raft because of the canyon walls that don’t allow for hiking. Below the “home of Brown?” Brown’s Canyon on the Colorado is a popular, but remote section to raft or kayak. Hmmmm. Too easy, I’m sure.
Read more clues here. And check out this view of Fenn’s map.
