This is about a modern-day treasure hunt. There are certain things that everyone loves to read about, monsters from the deep, stories of courage, and lost treasure. These three are pretty universal in their appeal. This treasure isn't lost by any means. It was hidden by an 82-year-old, named Forrest Fenn. Years earlier, Forrest was diagnosed with cancer and given only a few years to live. It was this life-changing ordeal that gave him the idea of leaving a legacy of hidden treasure. He loaded up a chest filled with the treasure that takes a lifetime to amass, hundreds of rare gold coins, rubies, emeralds, carved jade, nuggets of gold and more. Enough to fill a 40lb chest (tipping the scales at roughly 2 million dollars). And then one night, Forrest took his treasure chest into the Santa Fe, New Mexico mountains to hide.
The location of the treasure can be deciphered through a poem Forrest wrote in his autobiography called "Thrill Of The Chase". The man has lived an incredible life, did a bunch of crazy stuff and lived to write it all down. The buried treasure was supposed to be the closing chapter of his book, with cancer being the final word. Turns out Forrest, like most things in his life, overcame the odds and beat the cancer the first time around but as fate would have it, the cancer is back and Forrest has been given only limited reprieve from death, but the legacy of his treasure will live on...until someone finds it.
The Poem:
As I have gone alone in there
And with my treasures bold,
I can keep my secret where,
And hint of riches new and old.
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's no place for the meek,
The end is ever drawing nigh;
There'll be no paddle up your creek,
Just heavy loads and water high.
If you've been wise and found the blaze,
Look quickly down, your quest to cease,
But tarry scant with marvel gaze,
Just take the chest and go in peace.
So why is it that I must go
And leave my trove for all to seek?
The answers I already know,
I've done it tired, and now I'm weak.
So hear me all and listen good,
Your effort will be worth the cold.
If you are brave and in the wood
I give you title to the gold.