TTI Treasure Story #4 – The search for the Pokémon Treasure Box in There’s Treasure Inside! Six Questions with WaldoWal (Discord Username) .
On page 158 of the book, Jon Collins-Black writes: “I hope you will share your stories with one another. Much can be learned through mutual experiences.” What better way to show our appreciation for JCB’s Treasure Hunt than by sharing our stories with each other. Read how you can participate! And join us on the MW Discord or Forum
Thank you WaldoWal for sharing your adventures! Enjoy:
- 1Q) What Treasure Box were you searching for and what made you choose that box?
My daughter and I have been working on this since early December 2024. We initially started with the AT box, but after the trail on the book map was matched very closely to a trail in Vermont, we figured that one was done, and it wasn’t close enough to us to have a chance. Picking the Pokemon box as our second choice was pretty much random. We saw most people were focused on Arkansas and Louisiana. I used to live in Louisiana, so I thought something in the story might be familiar. But as we’ve gotten further into the clues, we suspect the box is closer to where we live now than we thought. I’d like to think it’s not confirmation bias, but we’ll see.
- 2Q) Can you share some of the clues that led to that search location? (If not, What are you enjoying most about the hunt?)
Spending time with my daughter on this and trading clue ideas has been so much fun. This has also motivated me to get out and get the exercise this hobby requires. The first time I went out, I was huffing and puffing after just a few minutes. I can tell I’m getting more in shape each time we go out. I think I might have even lost some weight.
I don’t want to reveal our search location, but I will share a few things about the clues we’ve found (and didn’t find). We haven’t matched “jazz” to much of anything. Nor has “Bouffalant” had much to do with our “solve” – other than Bouffalants are said to be powerful enough to “derail a train”, and our location is close to trains. I haven’t found any hidden messages in the Coltrane circle – nor any use for it at all really – but the fact it looks exactly like a “jar of flies” still has me convinced it’s related, and I’m just missing it.
We initially found some clues that we suspected pointed to a certain location, but we weren’t very sure – until we found 2 things:
1.) We matched the pink/purple picture. This seemed like winning the lottery. You can only really see it if you are on the ground, and you stand in a fairly specific spot. Even then, the picture is HEAVILY altered. But, enough matches for it to be more than coincidence. I’ll add that we only matched part of the picture. I believe the picture either represents multiple locations, or part of it is just art and doesn’t exist. Unfortunately, we searched the area extensively, and I don’t believe it’s where the box is located.
I’m still waiting to be on a trail and see another portion of the picture. THEN, we might be near the box.
2.) Sky Greninjas. That’s all I’m going to say about that.
- 3Q) Once you were on site, what surprised you most about the area?
Before going on site, I assumed we could probably stand in a place in the woods, look around, and pretty much see any good hiding spot within 200 feet. I was wrong. In reality, the hiding spots are almost infinite. Tucked under a rock, the trunk of a fallen tree, or in the branches of a thick evergreen tree, there are almost limitless places to hide something. Initially, I thought we had narrowed it down to within a 2-3 football fields sized area, and we just had to brute-force search it.
We’ve probably spent 20 total hours searching that area with no luck – and I’m still not 100% sure we didn’t just miss it. We decided there had to be some clue we’re missing that gets us closer. Upon reevaluating the clues, we’ve moved on to a new area at the same general location. We might just be starting another 20 hours of searching in vain, or we’re closing in on it. We shall see.
- 4Q) What is the most memorable moment or unique thing found while searching?
We have accidentally found 18 geocaches at this point. Most were not actual geocaches. They were these custom made ink stamps. I’m not familiar with those, but I imagine you’re supposed to find them and stamp a collector’s book of all your finds. We did find one that hit me hard though. It was hidden by a boy’s parents – on what would have been their son’s 11th birthday. He had apparently died at the age of 10 and was a fan of the custom ink stamp hunts. I have no idea who those parents are, but I’ve thought about them almost daily since then. I hope they are doing ok.
On a brighter note, we have also found numerous pieces of clothing that leave me wondering about the exact situations that must have unfolded there. To repeat my gag from the Discord channel, during our last boots on the ground, we found actual boots on the ground!
There was also a time a few weeks ago where someone claimed to have found the PF box (I think) in San Francisco. They said a fake candle was left behind at the hiding spot. Previously that same day, I had been searching in a remote area and had seen a fake candle on the ground. It was a very strange place to find such a thing. My mind raced wondering if JCB had decided to mark all the boxes with fake candles for some reason, and I had just walked right past one! It was a huge relief to hear the San Francisco find was a hoax (I still went back to double check that candle at my spot though – which I felt a little dumb doing).
- 5Q) You didn’t find the treasure box this trip. Are you still confident in your spot? Why or why not?
Yes – still confident for the reasons provided in 2Q.
- 6Q) Do you have any advice for someone else looking for treasure or is there something more you would like to say?
3 things: 1.) Get a really bright flashlight. It’s so much easier to shine under rocks and logs instead of having to crouch down, or stick your hands in a dark hole. 2.) Find someone to do this with you. You need someone to share with, to trade ideas, to encourage your good ideas, or even to shoot down your crazy, confirmation bias-fueled, wacky ideas.3.) Take lots of pictures. Years from now, you can tell stories about all the fun trips you had while hunting, all the clothing you found in the woods, all the geocaches, or maybe even how you found actual treasure!