The Treasure of Forrest Fenn was announced found on June 6, 2020. MW caught up with Cynthia Meachum, an avid searcher, to ask some of her thoughts about the Chase and the treasure chest of gold, hidden somewhere in the mountains north of Santa Fe, being found.

Six Questions with Cynthia:

  • 1Q) When and What inspired you to first begin the Chase?

I first heard of it from a co-worker at work Jan 2013. I googled it that night, drove to Santa Fe the following day to buy TTOTC, and was obsessed ever since. The inspiration was solving the poem in the book…. I always loved mysteries, the board game Clue, and logic puzzles and adventure! I remember thinking “How hard can this be?” I still smile when I remember that thought all those years ago!

  • 2Q) Had you expected the Treasure to be found in 2020? What did you feel when Forrest announced it was found?

I didn’t expect the treasure to be found in my lifetime, let alone so early in another search season. I received an email directly from Forrest saying it had been found. My first thought was that someone else was using his email address and it was a joke. I replied to him immediately, asking if it was true. He responded Yes. I was caught so off guard that it didn’t sink in. I was lucky that I was in the midst of discussing my solve with another searcher. He had arrived at my place on his way home after his recent BOTG, which happened to be the same place as mine. So we had each other to analyze what just took place… and he continued to be my emotional support through the next two weeks.

  • 3Q) Where do you feel the Treasure was found? Did you feel confident of a location? Do you feel you had some clues solved?

For sure I feel it was found somewhere in the Yellowstone area. I have a hard time believing Forrest hid it within the park boundaries, but I sure feel it would be close… within 15 miles of the Roosevelt Arch (one end of his rainbow). I never knew if I had any clues solved. The only one that mattered was the first one… and there are so many places where warm waters halt and most of them are north of Santa Fe. Sorry! LOL.

  • 4Q) What did you enjoy or what will you miss most about the Chase?

Well, I realize I was one of the lucky ones to get to know Forrest and become his friend. I hope that friendship will continue. I will miss the Chase community immensely . Hence, my party at Fishing Bridge/ West Yellowstone Labor Day weekend. And BOTG… holy moly… when I watch my Tribute video, that is the clip that makes me cry every time… that last BOTG earlier this year.

  • 5Q) Looking back on the Chase, what do you feel you learned about yourself? (or of the experience)

I think the thing I learned about myself that I never realized was how much I need my Chase friends. The grieving stage of the finality of the Chase was so much more drastic than I ever could have imagined. I need them to surround me… it’s the only comforting thing I could think of… the only thing I sought to ease the pain…. so I selfishly created the Labor Day party at Fishing Bridge.

  • 6Q) Is there something you’d like to say to Forrest or want him to know?

Absolutely. Forrest, I understand your promise to the finder to maintain his anonymity and the exact location where your treasure was found, your special place. But you owe us searchers more… you could answer a lot of our questions without compromising his identity or the treasure’s location. There… I said it!

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