Did Forrest Fenn Widen the Search Area for His Treasure Hunt?

[@loub747]

Saying Rocky Mountains actually narrows the search area, not widens it. Otherwise it could be near Lake Tahoe, California, in the Sierra Nevadas. Or any mountain ranges north or Santa Fe. Just sayin.

[@Davio22]

That was my conclusion in 2012, that it is very North.

[@pixystix7719]

Love your videos. The depth, detail and thought provoking analysis of TTOTC. 1 question. I've not heard of an original map showing only new Mexico. Is this the map on page 155 that is blurred?

[@smellthesunshine4425]

There's a collage on page 133: a New Mexico map (not original), with some gold nuggets and a frog. Forrest said at MW that the collage was his book designer's idea, but people have tried to find something significant here.

[@pixystix7719]

@@smellthesunshine4425 going back that is a 133 not 155... time to consider better lighting to continue my denial of needing cheater glasses 😃

[@lekistick1013]

By Forrest changing the terminology, it proves that the TC in NOT in new Mexico. He had to be more exacting so that the correct state would be allowed to come into play.

[@smellthesunshine4425]

Some people think the shift in terminology proves the tc is in NM. I tend to think the language was deliberately ambiguous from day one, like the poem itself.

[@GreyGhost80521]

If you don’t know precisely where you’re going...any state will take you there.

[@delysejaeger3466]

Very helpful, thank you. Those early quotes settle it for me.

[@chasingflinty2418]

I consider the addition of "Rocky" to "Mountains north of Santa Fe" to be sneaky-fuge

[@tonyrusi1978]

“No subterfuge in sight.” Think as you like, but the chest was not hidden in New Mexico, ever!

[@jacksquat4140]

If Forrest intended to take the chest with him when he died, and he had that location in mind all along, how was Doug Preston able to guess the location immediately? Did Forrest have to settle on a plan B?

[@fragilesensibilities4223]

If you assume the TC is buried in Wyoming or Montana and you’re Forrest, and you see mostly everyone focusing in the early days on New Mexico, would it not make sense to provide a little clarification? Just enough to get ppl to think more broadly? I think there was a deliberate expansion, but not to conceal New Mexico as the hiding spot, but rather to put searchers on the right path.

[@axleroy]

I have never bought this theory. Mountains north of Santa Fe includes the Rockies. If it was in New Mexico I believe it would have been found by now to many hardcore searchers have torn it apart since the beginning.....

[@fireworkstoo]

you are always great at the analysis. I think ff found the TODAY show and not the other way around. I also think the word TOD DOT must mean something anyhow though, like in his poem to Peggy in TTOTC. or the sun rising of the Today Shows logo. mmmmaybe, when it went US wide he wanted people to actually have the hint of the Rockies, besides the "subtle hints" in TTOTC of "mountain" 9 times and "mountains" 8 times and "rock" 3 times, "rocks" 5 times, "rocket & rockets" once..... no "rockie" or "rocky".

[@copperdan7667]

I've asked this question of other searchers before but I'd like your thoughts. Forrest chose Collected Works to sell his book. Then why does he reference Borders in Important Literature and not Collected Works? So he can twice use the word Borders? You thoughts?

[@smellthesunshine4425]

Copper Dan I go round and round with this one. Sometimes I think it’s merely a detail included to give life to the story; at other times, I think it might be a hint (but it seems vague); and then other times I think it’s misdirection. What are YOUR thoughts?

[@copperdan7667]

@@smellthesunshine4425. WELL, It sure helps with my confirmation bias that the treasure lies on the Wyoming/Montana border. Lol. I do think there is some kind of border involved with the solve. Whether it's a state border or a park border.. Sometimes I wonder if I put to much into the book and should just concentrate on the poem.

[@zapster326]

With Border's (sic), "borderline biddies" and Borders all within the span of four pages (9-12), coupled with Forrest's frequent mention of edges, it's reasonable to assume that a border is involved in the Chase.

[@melaniejones9845]

I think that it might not actually be in New Mexico also because he has never gone to check on it after he placed it. If it was so close dont you think the curiosity would get the best of someone after 10 years?

[@sandrarannells5689]

I agree that both sides of the argument hold water but it is irrelevant to the correct solution. Confirmation bias will sway the best. If the poem and TTOTC doesn't give you a specific spot, keep working on it. I have yet to hear of another solve that reveals a direct location down to a few feet.

[@KolaetosvanLangeveld]

You will not hear of that kind of solve even if someone has it because it will give away their down to a few feet figured out treasured location.

[@smellthesunshine4425]

Not sure I follow your “irrelevant” comment. When I began investigating this, I was completely prepared to rule out the entire search area except for northern NM. Right?

[@ilikeaffiliatemarketing6865]

@@smellthesunshine4425 My comment was a follow-up on what Sandra said, so it was relevant!

[@sandrarannells5689]

Smell the Sunshine, I like your videos and do not mean any disrespect of your ideas. I just meant that whether Forrest widened the search area or not isn't a cursor to solving the poem for me. It is a puzzle with only one way to get the pieces to fit in my opinion and I don't really hear much about this approach in videos and if searchers do bring up this approach, others seem to dismiss them quite quickly. Perhaps it is because it can reveal too much of a solution. I don't have the chest so take my comments with a grain of salt.

[@smellthesunshine4425]

@@sandrarannells5689 Thank you for your kind words. I didn't take your initial comment as disrespectful at all. Far from it! I enjoy the discussion. And I'm okay if someone challenges me on something. I'm a pragmatist when it comes to solving this riddle; so I'm going to take all the help I can get. If Forrest has something to say today, I'll listen. So when he shifts his terminology in mid-2013, and begins consistently saying "Rocky Mountains," I want to know why. Or try to. I think you're right about the puzzle-poem having just one solve that brings you to the chest. But I'll never make a video that spells out my specific interpretations. What would be the point? Thanks again.

[@n2cable]

Nice Vid!!

[@sms1949]

You see possible obscuration. I see clarification. But your idea contains thoughts worth consideration. And it is important to be suspicious.

[@smellthesunshine4425]

sms1949 I don’t argue here that FF’s making “Rockies” typical language was an act of obscuring. I mention Schwartz and Saunier as examples of those who from the beginning (2011; pre-Today Show) equated “mountains somewhere North” with “all of the Rockies.” It was somewhat clarifying.

[@dabear7335]

NSA Theory is more likely. Narrow search area theory. Just found your channel and enjoyed binging while locked in.

[@Huli007X]

Which came 1st: withIn 500/200ft, the article in the airline mag, Forrest hires a publicist, Today Show? Rock"e"y holds the clue? Love the way your videos make me think!

[@bthemedia]

Why say “north of Santa Fe” if easier to just say “the Rockies”? Sounds like your attempt to disprove the WSA theory is in your own best interest to search north of Santa Fe and reduce 90% of the search area... keep that wide area open for everyone else to search???

[@invisable4460]

Think what you may, present a convincing argument if you cant solve the poem you cant narrow the search area.

[@Davi.b]

Totally disagree, Its up north,

[@smellthesunshine4425]

Sounds like you didn't watch the video. Cheers.

[@rahrahonamission7062]

"North of..." can also mean age or height, so older than Santa Fe (estab. 1610) or at a higher elevation than 7,199 feet. Just food for thought.

[@BrickWilbur2020]

I found it this weekend.

[@smellthesunshine4425]

Funny. You've already contradicted the one and only interview Forrest gave to the Santa Fe paper.

[@BrickWilbur2020]

@@smellthesunshine4425 yep, I got the box and all the treasure right here with me. 😋