Get off your butts and go find a treasure!

The Forrest Fenn Treasure ChestOnce upon a time, in a land far, far away a mysterious man hid a chest full of treasure.

Actually it wasn’t that long ago – it was about 3 years, and the land is not that far away – It is the state of New Mexico, in the USA. But there is a chest, a real 43 pound (20 kilogram) bronze chest filled with gold coins, emeralds and rubies.

Forrest FennWho hid the treasure chest?  

The chest was hidden by Mr. Forrest Fenn from Santa Fe, New Mexico. He is a man of many traits: He is a treasure hunter, an art gallery owner, a family man, and an artefact collector. He has spent most of his life looking for treasure, finding treasure and collecting art.

map of new mexicoWhy did Forrest Fenn hide the chest?

The idea for hiding the chest came to Forrest when his doctor diagnosed him with cancer, he knew he couldn’t take his treasure with him and he hoped the treasure would inspire people to go on an adventure and have fun with it, like Forrest has had all his life. Also, kids nowadays (yes, that’s you) spend too much time on their electronic machines and devices (You again, you are doing it right now). The good news is that Forrest overcame the cancer and the treasure is still there waiting for you to discover it.

What’s in the chest?

Fenn says there is over 16 pounds (7 kilograms) of gold, a 17th century Spanish ring with a large emerald, a bracelet with 254 rubies, six emeralds, two sapphires, and a bunch of small diamonds, a historic bracelet with round turquoise beads, a 2,000 year old necklace from Columbia and a 20,000 word autobiography by Forrest Fenn wax sealed in an olive jar. The value of the treasure is approximately 2 million US Dollars (1.5 million Euros)

preparing for the huntWhere is the treasure?

Somewhere in the mountains north of Santa Fe. According to Forrest Fenn, this poem provides the nine clues you need to find the treasure:

 

 

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 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.

You can visit the Forrest Fenn website by clicking on the ruby:

ruby

 

 

 

 

photo credit: <a href=”http://www.flickr.com/photos/ilovealcopop/3566171261/”>ilovealcopop</a> via <a href=”http://photopin.com”>photopin</a> <a href=”http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/”>cc</a>

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