8 ms·

Some friends and I decided to have a go at the treasure a few years back. It was a good excuse to go out camping and road-tripping with some mates. We identifie

by Balgair 10y ago

Some friends and I decided to have a go at the treasure a few years back. It was a good excuse to go out camping and road-tripping with some mates. We identified a spot we each thought it may have been and then spend some weekends one summer checking them out. One place we found outside of Estes Park, CO did have a rather large hole dug out right next to a 'swamp'/water-filled depression, there were a LOT of beer cans and champagne bottles around from at least a winter beforehand. The place fit all the bills for the treasure's location, at least to our minds. Maybe the people that found it are mum, the tax reasons would be enough to shut my mouth too. The treasure has been around for so long, and there have been so many attempts at it, I figure there is no way that it has not been discovered yet, if the thing really exists. Maybe Fenn put some note in there that says to contact him for more cash or something, so that he'll know that it was found. I doubt this. More than likely, there is no treasure at all and it is an intentional wild-goose chase and the 'real treasure is friendship'. But that doesn't square with all the deaths people have had looking for it. If the 'real treasue is friendship' then Fenn has real blood on his hands. We all had a great time camping at least.

saycheese 10y ago
Treasure hunting is a lot of fun, though from experience if you really do find something, it's not always a good thing for the relationships of those involved. Always have a written agreement prior to starting with anyone involved before starting; that is the search crew, land owners, etc.
- Balgair 10y ago
  Oh yes, we even drew up contracts for how to split it and what to do in case of legal action, death, etc. I think we based it off the one in The Hobbit, but it has been a while. It was fun to read though as I do remember that there was a clause that you had to drink a few beers before negotiations could start. In general, it was enjoyable to go out and do that shindig and I would suggest it to others to have fun with it, but be sure not to, you know, die while out tramping about in the Rockies.
  - saycheese 10y ago
    Interesting, are you referring to this contract: https://www.wired.com/2013/01/hobbit-contract-legal-analysis/ https://www.wired.com/2013/01/hobbit-contract-legal-analysis...
    - Balgair 10y ago
      That does sound familiar, but I cant really recall, altitude and beer have an effect on the memory.
hueving 10y ago
>The treasure has been around for so long, and there have been so many attempts at it, I figure there is no way that it has not been discovered yet, if the thing really exists. I think you are vastly underestimating the size of the rockies. The clues are so vague that there are probably thousands of square miles that match the poem description [1]. 1. http://www.npr.org/2016/03/13/469852983/seeking-adventure-and-gold-crack-this-poem-and-head-outdoors http://www.npr.org/2016/03/13/469852983/seeking-adventure-an...
- Balgair 10y ago
  Yes, the Rockies are large, I would know, I have a fantastic view of them from my house. But an ill man is who buried the treasure taking 2 trips and the poem does narrow it a fair bit, the search range is 'spaghetti' but not a large amount of area in net total - So says someone that never found it. Also, I kinda doubt it exists to begin with.
- amelius 10y ago
  > I think you are vastly underestimating the size of the rockies. I would bet there is probably more than $1M worth of (naturally available) gold to be found in the Rockies, and it is spread around, so it's much easier to find than a single treasure.
  - planteen 10y ago
    Way more than that. The Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine produces over 200,000 ounces of gold per year. Not to mention countless closed mines that are probably yet to be played out.
phkahler 10y ago
>> If the 'real treasure is friendship' then Fenn has real blood on his hands. Apparently he has said you don't need to take any big risks to find it. I think that absolves him of any moral responsibility for people dying. You are responsible for your own actions. Somehow this story reminded me of the movie CrossRoads from 1986.
simias 10y ago
>The treasure has been around for so long, and there have been so many attempts at it, I figure there is no way that it has not been discovered yet This one has been going on for even longer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Trail_of_the_Golden_Owl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Trail_of_the_Golden_Owl And here we're certain it hasn't been found since only a token has been buried, the real golden owl will be given in exchange of it.
jlarocco 10y ago
Not to ruin the fun, but the chances of finding the treasure over such a huge area is very low. There are a few books dedicated to "lost treasure" around the Colorado mountains. I bought this one at a used book store a few months ago, and it's a fun read: https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Tales-Rockies-Perry-Eberhart/dp/080400935X https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Tales-Rockies-Perry-Eberhart... Many of the stories are dubious, but quite a few are legit and still "lost". Lots of stories along the lines of a prospector finding a rich gold vein, or very promising claim, and then hiding it for the winter, but never get back to it for whatever reason. There are also quite a few where travelers hide a "treasure" to protect it from Indians or bandits, but can never find it again. Many times the locations are known down to a particular gulch, valley, or mountain, and still nobody's been able to find it for 100+ years. I think knowing the history of an area makes hiking there more enjoyable, and it's fun to peek around for treasure, but the people taking it super seriously are wasting their time, IMO. Probably cheaper and better odds to play the lottery.
marme 10y ago
he has stated that the treasure is at least partially exposed to the elements and is not buried and requires no tools to find it and at least one person has been within 250 feet of it
deleted 10y ago
[deleted]

by Balgair 10y ago

saycheese 10y ago

Treasure hunting is a lot of fun, though from experience if you really do find something, it's not always a good thing for the relationships of those involved. Always have a written agreement prior to starting with anyone involved before starting; that is the search crew, land owners, etc.

Balgair 10y ago
Oh yes, we even drew up contracts for how to split it and what to do in case of legal action, death, etc. I think we based it off the one in The Hobbit, but it has been a while. It was fun to read though as I do remember that there was a clause that you had to drink a few beers before negotiations could start. In general, it was enjoyable to go out and do that shindig and I would suggest it to others to have fun with it, but be sure not to, you know, die while out tramping about in the Rockies.
- saycheese 10y ago
  Interesting, are you referring to this contract: https://www.wired.com/2013/01/hobbit-contract-legal-analysis/ https://www.wired.com/2013/01/hobbit-contract-legal-analysis...
  - Balgair 10y ago
    That does sound familiar, but I cant really recall, altitude and beer have an effect on the memory.

hueving 10y ago

>The treasure has been around for so long, and there have been so many attempts at it, I figure there is no way that it has not been discovered yet, if the thing really exists. I think you are vastly underestimating the size of the rockies. The clues are so vague that there are probably thousands of square miles that match the poem description [1]. 1. http://www.npr.org/2016/03/13/469852983/seeking-adventure-and-gold-crack-this-poem-and-head-outdoors http://www.npr.org/2016/03/13/469852983/seeking-adventure-an...

Balgair 10y ago
Yes, the Rockies are large, I would know, I have a fantastic view of them from my house. But an ill man is who buried the treasure taking 2 trips and the poem does narrow it a fair bit, the search range is 'spaghetti' but not a large amount of area in net total - So says someone that never found it. Also, I kinda doubt it exists to begin with.
amelius 10y ago
> I think you are vastly underestimating the size of the rockies. I would bet there is probably more than $1M worth of (naturally available) gold to be found in the Rockies, and it is spread around, so it's much easier to find than a single treasure.
- planteen 10y ago
  Way more than that. The Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mine produces over 200,000 ounces of gold per year. Not to mention countless closed mines that are probably yet to be played out.

phkahler 10y ago

>> If the 'real treasure is friendship' then Fenn has real blood on his hands. Apparently he has said you don't need to take any big risks to find it. I think that absolves him of any moral responsibility for people dying. You are responsible for your own actions. Somehow this story reminded me of the movie CrossRoads from 1986.

simias 10y ago

>The treasure has been around for so long, and there have been so many attempts at it, I figure there is no way that it has not been discovered yet This one has been going on for even longer: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Trail_of_the_Golden_Owl https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On_the_Trail_of_the_Golden_Owl And here we're certain it hasn't been found since only a token has been buried, the real golden owl will be given in exchange of it.

jlarocco 10y ago

Not to ruin the fun, but the chances of finding the treasure over such a huge area is very low. There are a few books dedicated to "lost treasure" around the Colorado mountains. I bought this one at a used book store a few months ago, and it's a fun read: https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Tales-Rockies-Perry-Eberhart/dp/080400935X https://www.amazon.com/Treasure-Tales-Rockies-Perry-Eberhart... Many of the stories are dubious, but quite a few are legit and still "lost". Lots of stories along the lines of a prospector finding a rich gold vein, or very promising claim, and then hiding it for the winter, but never get back to it for whatever reason. There are also quite a few where travelers hide a "treasure" to protect it from Indians or bandits, but can never find it again. Many times the locations are known down to a particular gulch, valley, or mountain, and still nobody's been able to find it for 100+ years. I think knowing the history of an area makes hiking there more enjoyable, and it's fun to peek around for treasure, but the people taking it super seriously are wasting their time, IMO. Probably cheaper and better odds to play the lottery.

marme 10y ago

he has stated that the treasure is at least partially exposed to the elements and is not buried and requires no tools to find it and at least one person has been within 250 feet of it

deleted 10y ago

[deleted]