Finding Treasure in The Rocky Mountains

In the mid 1800’s a lumber mill worker found gold shimmering in the river in the tailrace from his mill.  News spread and by 1849 prospectors or “forty niners” flooded this boon dock area eventually numbering around 300,000 and rapidly creating the new state of California as well as a professional football team in San Francisco.  It is the largest mass migration in US history.  Suffice it to say that gold drives people to do weird things.  However, a box of antique gold also drove me to do something pretty great.

A Treasure Map

Seven years back, I found myself waiting in the doctors office so I picked up the designated doctor’s office magazine which is The Reader’s Digest.  Between the really bad jokes and recipes, there was an article about an art dealer named Forest Fenn who had hidden a box of antique gold and jewels somewhere in the Rocky Mountains.  

The article then printed a poem that he claimed was a coded map to the treasure.  Now 99.9 times out of 100 I would have ignored that article and rarely Do I make 1/10 of a doctor’s visit.  But for some reason I read the poem and had an aha moment.  I thought, hmm I might know where that is.  I had been to a place once while visiting my sister just outside of Yellowstone on winter break in college. This place seemed to fit the poem really well.

The Worst Way To Get Financial Independence 

Hunting for a treasure that may or may not actually be real is perhaps just behind gambling as the worst financial independence plan one could possibly put together.  However, as entertainment it actually sounded kind of fun.  My sister now lived only a couple of hours from the area that I had in mind.  I sheepishly told her about this crazy poem and my idea.  One thing led to another, and the following spring I found myself with my sister and our collective 5 kids searching for a treasure.  

We ran into a moose in the forest, hiked a paddle board up a mountain to explore an island in a lost lake, and almost got bit by a rattle snake.  However, we did not find the treasure.  What we did find is that the kids absolutely loved it and were able to hike about 10 times as far without complaining if the prospect of a treasure chest was involved.

A Crazy Family Adventure

Over the years, we have met up for camping trips of s’mores and hiking.  We also searched 3 areas all around Gardiner and West Yellowstone looking for this treasure and coming away with some fun stories.

My niece thought that a cave might hold the treasure. We explored a bunch of caves but only came upon a dead elk and a stack of bones….let’s get out of here quickly!!

We traced through the poem with the clues while hiking some beautiful areas around the Madison Mountains and the Yellowstone River:

We also traced an overgrown wagon road from the 1800’s that used to lead to the North Gate of Yellowstone Park.  We even found ads painted on the rocks for the tourist wagons like 1800’s billboards:

We kayaked and paddle boarded a glassy topped Quake Lake looking down on a forest of trees all underwater from an instant flood caused by an earthquake in the 50’s:

The next year we returned and I waded into a mountain lake that no one had likely seen in 100 years while my son watched from the shore. It got a little sketchy on the way back spotting 2 fresh bear kills including this now in the middle of the trail:

Hey that wasn’t there on our way up! I thought to myself, at least that bear is now full. “Let’s sing loudly for fun,” I told my son and I took a huge canister of bear spray out of my pack.

The Real Treasure

Over these trips, we learned some history about the American West first hand.  We learned what was being mined by the color of the tailings and explored some places probably not seen in a long time.  Another funny thing that happened is that our kids grew up quite a bit as we were catching fish, camping and enjoying sunsets together.  In looking back at the pictures it occurs to me that they were just wee little things when we started. 

If you think that I am about to be cliche and say that the real treasure has been nature and this time shared together, that may be true but surprise there’s a twist to this tale.

New Mexico and Return of The Treasure

A few weeks back we took the family to Santa Fe to see my father in law.  While driving through town we passed an art gallery and the name looked familiar for some reason.  I googled it and chuckled because it turns out to be the former home and art gallery owned by one Forest Fenn.  He is the same guy who had hidden that treasure somewhere in the Rockies.  I chuckled about the coincidence and we went about our trip.  We hiked some trails and had a blast.

Then a couple of days later, I happened upon a news story that this wacky treasure had actually been found.  Someone had posted this picture on social media of the recovered chest full of tarnished gold:

Forrest Fenn confirmed that the treasure had been found by “someone back East.”  However, he or she was remaining anonymous.  I texted my sister and we both laughed and wondered if we had been close on any of those summer camping trips?

One Last Twist in This Treasure Hunt

As we left Santa Fe after our visit we drove back past that gallery.  Ahh heck I thought what are the odds that I would be here in this spot when this thing was found?  I may as well stop in as long as I am driving by.  Maybe this Forest Fenn character himself is around and I can ask him about it.  If nothing else it would make a good story.  I put on my face mask and walked into the empty gallery.  Forest Fenn was not around, but I did find millions of dollars of truly awe inspiring artwork spread all over the 2.5 acre building and gardens.

The End of a Treasure Hunt

Now sitting back in my office chair here in Colorado I just came across a story in the Denver Post about the thousands that have searched for this treasure and how many are waiting to hear more about who found it and where it was. The story in the paper asked, what will those searchers do now that it has been found?  It turns out that several people have been injured and several have died looking for this box.  Many search and rescue authorities are glad the hunt is over.  Apparently, Mr Fenn has promised, “more information and photos in the coming days.”  I am a little curious whether we were just feet away or in the wrong state all together on those trips.  However, I am not holding my breath for those answers.  It was a fun adventure shared with family and that is enough for me 😉

What do you think of this foolish escapade? What’s the weirdest adventure you’ve undertaken. Please share your thoughts in the comments.

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