armchair treasure hunt

Another armchair treasure hunt released- EARLY! – It is called- THE INCREDIBLE HUNT! And that it is! with Six Treasures, each worth $10,000, out there to find. To discover the hidden locations, a searcher needs to solve the clues provided in ‘the box’. The box of clues is available on the hunt’s website.

It’s exciting to begin the summer with the opportunity to discover and explore for treasures! Researching locations, solving clues, scouting out areas, having fun with family/friends, and exploring are awesome ways to learn new things. And what is best- is there is a chance to find hidden treasures while doing so!

Let’s learn more about how to join these adventures below! (Also be on the look out for a Follow-up Six Questions after The Incredible Hunt’s release! Subscribe to the MW Newsletter or Join the Treasure Hunt Forum for discussions!)

Six Questions with The Incredible Hunt:

  • 1Q) Congrats on the recent launch of your hunt! The treasure hunt community is excited to have the opportunities to search for not one, but SIX treasures!  Is this the first treasure hunt you have launched? What is your experience with armchair treasure hunts? Which hunts have you personally worked on solving- in the past, or even presently?

This is my first treasure hunt. To be perfectly candid, I had never heard of armchair treasure hunting. I was very familiar with Forrest Fenn’s hunt and Byron Priess’ hunt but somehow was unaware of the communities of dedicated searchers who are committed to these hunts. I spent my free time for several years working on solving both. Most fun hobby I’ve ever had.

This gives me hope that this Hunt can reach an even wider audience (the ones like me) and then inform those « solo hunters » about this broader community that has proven so friendly and welcoming.

  • 2Q) Please share how a person can get involved in The Incredible Hunt?  Are all treasures hidden in the continental USA? Are the chests able to be (legally) retrieved 24/7 all year round? Will any locations of treasures be advised off limits during certain times of the year because of weather? (ex: snow in the Rocky Mountains)

The locations of the chests are accessible year round. I wouldn’t necessarily say there’s no snow, but not so much as to consider the area inaccessible.

100% USA only. (Purchase box of clues on the website)

  • 3Q) How long do you feel the hunts will last?  Are you planning them to be all found within months of release? A year? Within 5 years? Or longer?   Will you share how you are imagining The Incredible Hunt to progress after launch.

I’ve given a lot of thought to this. The nightmare scenario would be that they’re all solved quickly (in 2 months?). I don’t think it’s at all likely but it keeps me up at night.

What‘s much more likely is that one gets solved in the first two weeks, another a month after that and at least 3 in the first 3 months. It’s probable that at least one chest will survive us all. Like Byron, I have a feeling that I’ll be keeping the secret to at least one of the cards throughout my life.

  • 4Q) Do you feel all Six Hunts are around the same difficulty? You mention experience in cryptography will help searchers in their Quest for the Treasures. Will searchers need a basic knowledge or in depth knowledge of the subject to have a chance at solving the clues and discovering a Treasure?

It’s hard for me to know which card is hardest to solve because when I look at each card, all I see is its solution staring back at me.

I won’t even look at a card in front of someone because I feel like they can see the answer in my eyes! I don’t have an advanced knowledge of cryptography so, no, deep knowledge isn’t necessary.

  • 5Q) How precise of a location for the hidden treasure will the clues provide once all solved? Will a searcher know exactly where to look without doubt?  And…   are all clues in the purchased box – in that those clues in the box will lead to all that is needed to solve for a location – and in that no further purchase or additionally released clues over time would be necessary?

The cards translate to a location and then the map takes you in for the kill (so to speak). I mentioned to someone before that, unlike the solves in The Secret, these cards translate to actual values so there’s no guessing. You’ll know without a doubt when you have the solution.

Besides the box, there’s nothing else a Hunter needs to retrieve in the real world. Better said, clues won’t lead a Hunter to other clues in the real world. No travel for clues. The only required travelling would be travel to the location of a chest.

  • 6Q) What did you enjoy most about creating The Incredible Hunt? Do you have any advice for treasure hunters on how to go about searching for the treasures of The Incredible Hunt? What might you say they should expect?

I definitely enjoyed crafting the clues. At times it’s frustrating working on one clue for weeks. You feel like you’re not making any progress but you just have to step back from the trees so you can get a view of the forest.

Regarding any expectations Hunters should have, I think the most valuable thing I can tell you all is that I’m a computer programmer by trade. I could mean several things with that statement but, as the Hunt progresses, it should become clear to Hunters what I mean.

This Hunt is very personal for me. For those of you I’ve already met along the way, you know I’m responsive and genuinely interested in the progress being made. I’ll answer every email and every comment.

The sanctity of the Hunt is paramount for me. I give an abundance of thought to each of my communications to ensure no one is achieving any unfair advantage – even in the slightest – regardless of who they are or how often we communicate. Above all else, I am committed to integrity and fairness in this game as well as in life.

In that context, there won’t be any hints or « statements between the lines » in any personal communication between myself and a Hunter. If you’re having a direct communication with me in a private space (I.e. not Twitter or FB comments), there won’t be any relaying of additional hidden information. If it’s available to the public (even in the scantest form), there would be (and very much will often be) more to the communication then appears at first read. I hold red lines (such as these) of the utmost importance.

Good luck to all our Hunters. Whether you’re one of the lucky six or not, my hope is that every one of you gets many hours of enjoyment from your involvement in this Hunt. If anyone comes away disappointed, it represents a failure of mine.