Over the years, I have posted Questions and Answers from searchers of the Forrest Fenn Treasure Hunt on my site. This was so everyone could share in the information or stories Forrest Fenn was sharing to others.
Although all don’t pertain specifically to the treasure, Forrests’ answers give a glimpse into his thoughts, life, and how he thinks. Besides being enjoyable, his answers might help us learn a bit about him and how he thinks, which in turn might help us better understand the The Poem leading to his hidden treasure chest.
Here are all the Featured Questions from 2016 on one page for your convenience (with the dated links to the original for reading of comments).
Click following year links for Resource Pages on Featured Questions from: 2015 and 2014.
Mr. Fenn, NASA plans to have a man on Mars in 20-30 years. Given your Indiana Jones personality for adventure and flight, as a young man, would you have wanted to be selected as an astronaut for that program? ~BW
No BW, that NASA thing was not meant for me. It required too much study, and I’m just smart enough to know I’m not smart enough for that program. And I didn’t want to get in the centrifuge. I knew Buzz Aldrin and Dave Scott, both of whom walked on the moon. We were both in the same fighter wing in Germany in 1958 or so.
If one of them called and said, “Hurry Fenn come down here and jump in this rocket with me,” I’d been there in a minute. At 85, I’m still sitting by the phone. That line must be out of order. f
Mr. Fenn, I know you get tons of emails every day. Do you ever get any from famous people? DBC
Not really DBC, but some could be famous and I wouldn’t know it. My 13 year old granddaughter Piper said that I had finally arrived, because Ashton Kutcher put pictures of me and the treasure chest on his Instagram. She thought it was a big deal. I wonder if anyone knows who Ashton Kutcher is? f
Forrest Fenn I hope, I am new to the treasure search and there is so much contradictory information on the blogs I don’t know what to believe and what I shouldn’t. It must be just as confusing for you to read. Can you tell me anything that will help me? Thank you Mister Fenn. Adell PS, I am a city girl.
I will try Adell. Read the blogs for entertainment, and the poem like you were going to put an X on a map. Beyond that I am not compelled to reiterate. Hunt prepared and go safely. Good luck. f
Forrest, in the 2015 answers to six questions, you answered in part,“What surprises me a little is that nobody to my uncertain knowledge has analyzed one important possibility related to the winning solve.” Is this statement still accurate? ~ Thanks, sumbuddy
Yes sumbuddy, and that is why I recently suggested that searchers consider the what ifs. f
Forrest, You said you were able to read the name of the French Fallen soldier along with the poem in English below the name, but you never reveal the name in the book. What was the name of this soldier? I been researching this and it might be impossible and may be no reverence to your poem. My thought is you would want this person remembered like you would want to be remembered. ~Shannon
Heck Shannon, you just widened one of my largest fault lines. In my haste to get back to the helicopter and leave that place, my effort was expended trying to remember the inscription, and I repeated it over and over. In that process the soldier’s name was not retained.
All I remember is that his last name had an x in it. Is it strange that I would remember that? But there are no regrets because now he is my personal Unknown Soldier whose lack of identity stands as a metaphor for all men and women who fell in that ugly war and have now faded from our memory. f
Forrest, if a movie was made about the Thrill Of The Chase, which actor would you like to see portray you? Let’s assume Pitt is unavailable. Robert Redford perhaps? ~pacman
You are so funny pacman, with that movie stuff talk. I am the last remaining member of my family so who would watch such a film? My wife would probably suggest that Justin Bieber play my character, but I would think Wallace Berry would be more appropriate. f
April 15th, 2016 (Forrest’s answers in RED)
Mr. Fenn, Being a newcomer to the chase and classifying myself in the ‘Little girl from India’ group, as I live in Cairo Egypt, I very much doubt in the near future at least to pay a visit to the Rockies. But just infront of my laptop has opened up so many avenues of seeing and learning about the region and its indigenous people. So, Mr. Fenn you got that right! Knowing that the poem has been written in an obtuse way with all of us having great ideas about the solve, some of which are so intricate, sensible, logical and still wrong; It certainly makes for a great puzzle.
Obtuse means annoying so in continuing your thought I will toss that word right back to you in paraphrase. If all of you have such great ideas about the solve, how can they be wrong?
That said and sorry if it has been asked before but I have one question for you, Mr.Fenn – if I stand at the place where warm waters halt, I will also be standing there or inherently very close to the same spot when I have found the blaze? ~ Richard
P.S.) My thoughts behind this is that you, Mr.Fenn, lead us on a trip from the beginning to the end but both are actually in the same place. IE a return journey so to speak. I am just thinking of the verse by TS Elliot and of course you being as cunning as a fox! My sister had a fox fur coat sir. f
Mr. Fenn, Which direction does the Blaze face? North, South, East or West? Curious. Foxy
I didn’t take a radial off of the blaze Foxy. I’m thinking it may not be any of those directions. f
Mr. Fenn, Were pottery shards ever repurposed? I wonder if they were ever shaped into arrowheads to be used on small animals? ~ Thanks BW
Sure they were BW. In our digging we found a few hundred human effigies that were shaped from pieces of broken pottery vessels. I picture many of them in my book, The Secrets of San Lazaro Pueblo.f
Mr. Fenn, I know you said finding the treasure is out of your hands. But do you think you hid it in a place that it will be found someday? thank you ahead of time for answering my question or giving thoughts about it. ~ John.
John, That’s such a forlorn question. Someday is an indefinite and unpredictable time. I don’t dare try to guess when the treasure will be found. I don’t mean to be evasive, but I see I am.f
Mr. Fenn: How far is the chest located from the blaze? ~ casey
Casey, I did not take the measurement, but logic tells me that if you don’t know where the blaze is it really doesn’t matter. If you can find the blaze though, the answer to your question will be obvious. Does that help?f
Forrest, if you were invited to one of the legendary costume parties thrown at El Delirio (the shared estate of Martha Root White and Amelia Elizabeth White in Santa Fe in the early 20th Century) – what characters or creations would you and Peggy show up as? ~Billy in Texas
Billy, When I was asked that question many years ago about going to a masquerade party I said I’d wear my best clothes and go as a bum. My wife didn’t like that answer so I should not mention it here and risk visiting her wrath again.
I built my home in the Amelia White Sub Division and she lived only two blocks from me. The School of Advanced Research is housed in her home today. She had a lot of animals and the pet cemetery she maintain on her property is landscaped beautifully and has a little fence around it.
There may be 100 graves, but I don’t know how many for sure. There were times when the stress of my business required that I get away for an hour, I would go sit in the speckled shade of a few pinon trees by that special little place and read the grave markers. I was quickly rejuvenated by that experience. Sorry Billy, I forgot what the question was.f
Hello Forrest, The ace of spades, the so-called “death card” is featured in many movies about the Vietnam War. I see this as a very strange event and was wondering if mavericks of the war actually practiced this and why. Is it true? ~Rhonda
Dear Rhonda,
I am not aware of the dark things about which you speak. It was my experience that those in combat needed to maintain a positive attitude and stay focused. Sorry I can’t answer your question.f
Forrest, Your life has been so full and exciting. It has been such a treat living vicariously through your experiences. Your life and your treasure hunt has been the catalyst for so many of us to create our own adventures. While researching countless hours I’ve found myself drawn into the culture and era of our ancestors time after time. It makes me take pause and wonder what life would’ve been like with each subject I research.
It makes me wonder if there was a culture or era in particular that you wish you could have experienced. I’m sure you would have been a Maverick no matter where you might have landed in time! ~Dusty Rose Treasury
Dear Dusty Rose Treasury,
Looking back on my life, with the advantage of 85 years of hindsight, I can understand how you would arrive at that conclusion. But, like the batter standing at the plate, it was not possible for me to know what will happen in the next few minutes.
To answer your question in full would take more space that Jenny allows here, but I will say that I would like to have been with the first human that stepped into North America, and I would like to have been with the Indians at the Custer fight. And probably a lot of events in-between.f
Dear Forrest, may I ask what type of car you used to go into the mountains to hide the Treasure Chest. ~ Bill
Yes Bill, it was a sedan. f
Forrest, I’m interested to know what was the reaction of both your parents, in detail, when you announced you were off with your buddy into the mountains for the adventure? Cheers. James
For whose adventure James, and what mountains and which buddy? Your question could fit any one of several episodes I experienced during my youth.
Generally speaking, my parents were wrought up with frontier spirit and encouraged me to run free if my pursuit appeared wholesome. There were no soccer moms when I was a teenager and my parents never worried for my safety.f
Dear Forrest, You have said in the cold months to wait for the snow to melt and the mud to dry. Considering much of the Rockies are subject to random and frequent bouts of precipitation, when is the mud ever dry? ~Thanks, I’m Inohury
Ha, elementary question my dear Inohury. A friend’s six year-old daughter told me that mud can never dry because if it did it wouldn’t be mud anymore. Please don’t ask me to argue the point. f
Mr. Fenn, I am not even close to solving your riddle. I’ve tried for months and nothing works. I am not asking for a clue to the treasure, I’m asking for a clue to the clues. Please help me. ~Mary.
Dear Mz. Mary, The solve is difficult for many searchers because their minds think the clues are tougher to decrypt than they really are. Some say they are trying to think outside the box, as if the solution lies somewhere out there.
Until now I have resisted telling them to get back in the box where their thoughts are comfortable and flow more easily. The blueprint is challenging so the treasure may be located by the one who can best adjust. To illustrate my point go to YouTube – Smarter Every Day. f
Mr. Fenn, you said that the chest is in a safe location. Is there cellular phone reception at that location? – because to me a safe location would be one where you would be able to call for help if needed! ~J
J, I don’t remember saying that the treasure is in a safe location. “Safe” is an absolute word, meaning there is no possibility for harm. So don’t you think your last sentence is oxymoronish? If you are safe, why would there be a need for a phone? Look around the world and tell me of a place that is truly safe. f
Mr. Fenn, Instinct tells me that you have something more in the jars you’ve hidden than just your autobiography, like maybe a gold coin or two. Do you think it is harder to find your jars or the chest? ~RPeternell
R, Each bronze jar I buried contains only my autobiography that is encased in a moisture proof glass container. Today I would be unable locate any of my buried jars or bells.
My hope is that some romantic historian will happen upon one of them in the year 12,016, and think that Forrest Fenn was not just a passer-by to life. f
Forrest, when you started your gallery in Sante Fe, did you have a backup plan as to what you would do if it did not take off? Or did you avoid having thoughts like those? ~Thanks Mark J
Mark J, I was never organized enough to have a back-up plan. Initially, our art future traveled on very hard days. We just lumbered along feeling our way, replete with mistakes. Eventually, our efforts began to take on a more polite expression and the last fifteen or so years we were able to coast. f
Dear Forrest, I was a fishing guide a few years back and there were many who preferred using certain fly rods over others. Do you have a favorite type of rod/brand to fish with? ~ matt
Matt, when I was a teen I saved and saved to buy a Granger Victory split bamboo fly rod. At $25, it was way beyond my budget, but I just had to have it. Although it is now retired, it occupies a place of honor in my fishing cabinet.
In rods and reels the magic name in those days was Hardy Brothers, but I couldn’t afford those things. Once, when I was in London on art business, I went to the Hardy Brothers store and just wandered around – looking. The Hardy name is like Mahatma to me. f
Dear Forrest, The blogs a buzz with chatter, which is not new. I’ve been observing a lot of thoughts by “veteran” searchers who have been living and breathing your “Chase”, through at least a couple of years; comments indicating you may be frustrated, or annoyed, or that somebody is so close but just can’t pull off a win.
Here I ask the following in hopes our conversations can get back to the poem. Also, to follow, an unrelated question.
Q1) Is/are the searcher(s) still involved, those you had indicated in August of 2014, who were within 200 feet of the treasure?
A) I don’t want to answer that question because it would reveal too much. f
Q2) If so, are he/she any nearer at all after two years time?
A) Don’t know. Sorry. f
OOPS, one more on this (pretty please)
Q3) And IF he/she are still searching, after two years’ time, has ANYONE else neared or passed he/she in proximity to the above mentioned “within two hundred feet”? I’m hoping for a mind tingling, fire starting, blog buzzing answer from you, but just a response is fine by me!
A) No need for oops, but again, I don’t know. f
And last Q) At Fennboree, you were asking spallies about the aged silver and turquoise bracelet she wore, which has a turquoise butterfly, offset atop the original, silver, bezel shape. (If you answer I hope spallies will provide a picture! 🙂 )
You mentioned a very interesting fact about that particular turquoise, and how the oils of human skin had changed its hue from wearing it very close. I recall most of what you had said, but some was lost in the background noise. Could you please provide the name of that particular type of turquoise, and tell us again how it emerged as the butterfly spallies wore?
A) It was Cerrillos turquoise JD and I sincerely hope I didn’t say that it “emerged as a butterfly.” (I was not drinking). Turquoise from the Cerrillos mines, particularly the Tiffany mine, can be chalky and undesirable when mined. But when it is worn over long periods and absorbs oil from the skin it may turn a beautiful grass green, and be the best of all. f
I know it’s a lot, but I really don’t ask much! :).
Thanks so much, Forrest! You are welcome J. f
Jdiggins
Mr. Fenn, In your interview with New Mexico True Stories, you mentioned that you know that the treasure is wet. I checked out the date of that interview and it looks like you said that in a February, which could mean that you knew that it had snowed or rained at the site of the treasure chest, or simply because of higher water.
Now we are in mid-summer, and if we assume that no storms have passed through recently, would you know that the treasure is wet now? ~Thanks, B
Yes B, physics tells me the treasure is wet. f
Mr. Fenn, Assuming standard day at both KSAF and the atmosphere immediately above (within 500’ AGL) the bronze chest, 110 IAS, no wind, and uncorrected for magnetic variation, what heading would I turn to after departure from KSAF, how long shall I fly on that heading, and what MSL altitude shall I climb (or descend) to as to offer the bronze chest a fly-by at 100’ AGL?
Recent study revealed I’ll be above 5000 MSL, and greater than 8.25 miles (statute?…nautical?) from Santa Fe proper. Thoroughly enjoyed ‘The Thrill of the Chase’.
Respectfully, J.T., LtCol, USAF (retired), Fighter Pilot, School Teacher, Wannabe Treasure Hunter, Cedar Park, Texas
I would do a 180, land at KSAF, drink lots of coffee, and don’t let the flight surgeon find you. Good luck sir. f
Hello Forrest, If in 500 years all a person has is the poem, and no back story: they don’t know “in the rocky mountains north of santa fe” or that there are 9 clues etc. Could a person reasonably just use the words in the poem and find your treasure chest? Thank you ~Nope
Thank you Nope. Nope. f
Mr. Fenn, you’ve undoubtedly met countless numbers of us searchers (via email), is there anyone who stands out in your mind, and if so, why? ~ Doug
Many stick out in my mind Doug, but especially the fictitious little girl from India who Jenny invented.f
Mr. Fenn, you have been quoted as saying the treasure chest is hidden in “A very special place.” If a searcher should be fortunate enough to solve the poem, will he/she see the location as special place (by your definition) also, or will your reasoning be forever known only to you? ~Thanks BW
I don’t know how to answer your question BW. People are so different. A writer from Manhattan came to see me. It was her first time out of the city. When I asked how she liked New Mexico she said, “There’s a sky,” and she wasn’t kidding. At home she never thought to look up. She was thrilled when I showed her a cow. f
Dear Forrest Fenn, If you could only see one of these two things before you pass on what would it be, your special place where you secreted your treasure chest or the chest and it’s contents? I hope my question is not to bold. ~The Count
The Count, Both the treasure and its hidden location are so vivid in my mind that I don’t need to see them with my eyes again. f
Dear Forrest, As a deeply felt thanks to all the Forrest Fenn Treasure Hunt searchers that voted for MysteriousWritings, I was wondering if you would be willing to answer a special question to help us celebrate the win of Blog of the Year.
My simple question would be:
You’ve written an excellent poem that leads us to the location of a fantastic treasure. What do you feel is one of the main reasons it hasn’t been found yet? Thanks so much ~ jenny
Congrats Jenny. Most of the searchers are very bright and make intelligent comments, either by email or on the blogs, but there seems to be more attention paid to the blaze than to the first clue. Perhaps that’s why the treasure hasn’t been found. f
Dear Forrest, with the year closing can you give us a roundup of search activities from your unique vantage point? Thanks so much, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! ~jenny
Thanks Jenny, I’ll try.
Even as snow smothers most of the Rocky Mountains and icy roads strongly suggest that drivers stay home by the fire, a few intrepid searchers are not listening. Yesterday, another excited woman contacted me saying her ex was lost and incommunicado in Montana. We ganged his answering machine and inbox with messages. Fortunately, today he turned up safe and confused in Missoula.
There are webcams all over the country these days. They give you live weather reports in living color. I just checked the one at Old Faithful and found it snowing with vis about 400.’ Still, there were about 15 people walking around. The park is closed to all but snowmobiles.
I like to check the Yellowstone Giant Screen webcam because off in the distance I see an orange railcar that is parked adjacent to the building where I sometime showered as a kid. I didn’t do it very often because it cost 50 cents. Bathing in the Madison and Firehole Rivers was free.
Many searchers told me the general area in which they are looking. I didn’t read the long emails, but in most of the short ones I looked for key words that would get my attention. Several did this year and I hope my lack of an email response was not taken as a clue.
It is hard to know how many individuals were treasure hunting this summer, but my guess is between 40 and 50,000, most in New Mexico and least in Colorado. Of course I read the many short emails from families who told me and sent photos of their great adventures in the mountains. Thanks to those people.
Hunting reports have slowed to a crawl now that the search areas are mostly shut down for the winter.
Merry Christmas everyone and please be safe. f
Thanks Jenny – It is so nice to have a all of Forrest’s Q & A’s for one year bundled together. Thanks for your efforts – JDA
Jenny
Your contribution’s to the chase does not go unnoticed by me.
Thank you for all of your time and effort that you continue to give each and everyone of us .
You are the best. Hands down the best.
Thank you, Jenny. You’ve done a lot of work that helps the folks that are searching for Fenn’s treasure.
Are you also searching for it?
I love that you take the time to make these compilations, jenny. They are a great reference, a lot of help and truly appreciated!
Thanks Jdiggins….. I love the chase, and sharing/helping how I can…. Forrest has given such an awesome opportunity for thrills to all (who choose to search/enjoy)….
I agree, Forrest IS the thrill of the chase!