Are the first four clues of the Forrest Fenn Treasure hunt solved, and will they take you within 200 feet of the treasure chest? Let’s take a look…
Watch on Video or read below!
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One of the first times Forrest mentions searchers having solved the first clues was in September 2012. He said:
“Several months ago some folks correctly mentioned the first two clues to me in an email and then they went right past the other seven, not knowing that they had been so close. Alas, and dame fortune, so often a fickle and seductive wench, never spun her wheel to lure them back.”
We might question, since there have been statements made by Forrest about searchers being 500, and then later 200 feet away from the treasure, were those first searchers 500, or more feet away?
I think the first public mention of being specifically 500 feet away was in 2013. But in an email on 10/10/12 this statement by Forrest was shared:
“Some few have stopped within several hundred feet of the correct location, and then passed it by.”
I think it is safe to say those first searchers of 2012 were not 200 feet within the treasure but more around the 500 feet mark– and had solved the first two clues-(although didn’t confidently KNOW it).
We can suppose this from a FQ with MW in June 2014, because it is clear Forrest understood the use of ‘Several’ (which means more than 2 (or 200) but not more than many)
“Now I will test you Wordsmith. Write down the full definition of the word “several.” Then Google it and learn that many of us don’t fully understand some of the words we use every day.f”
But it seems that around the time Forrest began commenting about searchers possibly solving 4 clues (but not certain)…. the 200 feet remark had started getting tossed around.
In November 2015, Forrest seemed to connect the two– the 200 feet with the 4 clues. Here is a Q/A leading to such an idea.
Q) Are there signs that people are getting closer to solving your puzzle? How many clues have people solved now?
A) Searchers have come within about 200 feet. Some may have solved the first four clues, but I am not certain.
So it seems that solving the first two clues can get you within 500 feet, but solving 4 will get you within 200 feet?
IF this is the case, then wouldn’t the distance of where a searcher is at solving 2 clues….and those searchers solving 4 clues…. be only a difference of 300 feet…..??
What does this scenario suggest for the line ‘not far but too far to walk’ to be? Is it a clue or a line that goes with ‘And take it in the canyon down‘….??
When considering this, 300 feet doesn’t seem ‘too far to walk‘, and so this suggests Forrest might not be counting the line ‘TFTW’ as one of the clues….but instead, an instruction which goes with WWWH and TIITHCD. The 3rd clue would then be ‘PIBTHOB’.
What I consider an important possibility from the 200/500 foot statements is mostly that if a searcher solved the first two clues, and supposing those clues are WWWH and TIITCD, the searchers may not have stopped at the right location and passed the other seven. (suggesting the point they passed by it, they were within 500 feet)
However, the possible searcher/s who solved 4 clues, supposing the clues are WWWH, CD, HoB, (and moving in the no place for the meek)… may have stopped at the correct location after CD/TFTW, walked some (in the no place for the meek), and got within 200 feet.
It suggests Forrest is not counting ‘not far but too far to walk’ a clue (in itself), but goes along with CD. Still a vital piece….as THE ENTIRE POEM is.
So from those 200 and 500 foot statements (and connection to the solving of two and four clues), can we deduce that the first 4 clues are?
- 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 is no place for the meek
I think the above suggestion is a strong possibility.
Although nothing is a certainty until the chest is found. And I always leave all options open.
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Best of luck with all that you seek! Always Treasure the Adventure!
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Very nice Jenny, way to boil it down with solid, simple facts. Absolutely plausible. smiley face. g