#2. Did the solve involve the use of synonyms for words found in the poem clues? Just as many were certain they knew the location, online skeptics filled the void of information with conspiracy theories: There was never a treasure, or Fenn wanted to give it away before he died. We may have never known exactly where the treasure was hidden, but a frivolous lawsuit against Fenn has brought forth never-before-seen details. I.e. Based on these and prior knowledge of Stuef's search area, the precise location of these photos has now been determined. Here are a few questions Ive been wondering about: 1. If Sommer questions Stuef, however, McCracken also gets a turn. More specifically, I suspected it was somewhere around the town of Gardiner, which sits less than a mile from the parks north entrance. The exact location remains a secretthough one at risk of being divulged. His view seemed to be that the location of the treasure became public information when Fenn published his poem. Follow. perhaps you have a similar genetic makeup and therefore you were able to think the same as Forrest. I have thought about whether I would go on the internet and point out the evidence at that point in a fit of pique. The finder identified himself Monday in a. Thank you for that. Depends on your definition of significantly. The poem directs you to a section of forest in which to search for the blaze, but that is something you had to search for. Stuef wrote that Fenn's death was not the first time the man had made him cry, but that he cried throughout the strenuous treasure hunt. Daniel Barbarisi is the author of Dueling with Kings. Discord link- https://discord.gg/jWZCbEAp6r, According to the CNN article released 1 hour ago; Stuef said he'll never reveal the location where he found the chest to preserve the wildlife there and prevent other explorers from following his trail, which could be dangerous.. Its not always easy being the finder, but its heartening to see how many great people are out there. There was this one instance where another hunter and I were down in Bear Canyon in New Mexico. The vast majority of searchers have been kind and respectful of the responsibility I have to protect the location where the treasure was secreted (and, therefore, the answers to the clues that lead there). 2. And he always said that there was a kind of fail-safe inside. McCracken accuses Fenn of moving the treasure four timeswhenever McCracken was getting close to it, he says. Since the announcement that it was found in Wyoming, Ive been working on a new Wyoming solve. Last question is would you say the remaining clues were still traceable or were others damaged as well? Support us! I would like to ask: what gave you confidence in your search location? He also claims that Fenn purchased property near his search spot to keep tabs on him, and that Fenn was lying every time he said that the chest was still in the same place hed originally left it. We use cookies. You are a great writer just like Forrest. Join Outside+ to get Outside magazine, access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. Would you say the blaze could have already been damaged when Forrest originally left the chest? Thanks again Jack and completely understand if I dont hear back from my question. They were sure they had it and clouded out logical thinking. Stuef, a career writer, graduated from Georgetown University in 2009 and worked for the Onion and later freelanced for Buzzfeed before enrolling in medical school, Outside reported. A 32-year-old medical student has been identified as the finder of a million-dollar treasure that evaded seekers for more than a decade. Maybe he had time to prepare. Find the ZIP Code, County, and +4 of any U.S. The people who were searching for the chest wanted to be right. What do you think? It fits a dictionary definition of the word and is used correctly in context. He quickly identified the area of interest in Wyoming and spent 25 days over the next two years searching the location. I hope you are staying safe and anonymous for now. 5 Years Later, a Trial, Trump Requests Mistrial in E. Jean Carroll Case, Biden Holds Line on Talks, but Cracks Are Emerging, Aerosmith's Big Announcement: 'Think It's About Time', Texas Governor Slammed for Tweets After Mass Shooting, It's the Second-Largest Bank Failure in US History, On Day He Decided to Flee Khartoum, US Doctor Killed, Killer Confesses to Old Murder. 2010 - Fenn, an 80-year-old art dealer and writer, announces that hes hidden a treasure worth $2 million in the Rocky Mountains. Another Remains Jailed for It, This Town's Little League Has 'Ingenious' Plan for Unruly Parents, Restored Ancient Cup Is Amazing, but a Little Fishy, Fugitive in Texas Killings 'Could Be Anywhere', TV Writer's 1990s Gaffe Is Legend. A different one accused the chests then anonymous finder of hacking a plaintiffs emails and texts to steal the solution. Was the natural damage that the blaze suffered something that occurred slowly (like erosion, settling, etc.) Once youve spent a lot of time poking down the drier holes, the weirder stuff stops seeming weird. And without his many comments on simplicity and the straightforwardness of the poem, I think it would have been more difficult to understand the scope of the undertaking and his perspective on the poem, which I think are crucial to figuring out what it means. This treasure hunt was the most frustrating experience of my life. The late Forrest Fenn and reported treasure discoverer Jack Stuef. I hope this doesnt sound crazy its an honest question. I now own the treasure chest. NOTHING about it will be accidental and The treasure will be found by someone who followed the clues to the location.. Heading out the door? If I could be assured the spot wouldnt be destroyed, and Forrest was ok with it, and most of them wanted it to just be handed to them, then sure. Initially, I really did think it was going to be in New Mexico. But nobody was looking there, because it wasnt very good. Even if it made them do crazy and sometimes dangerous things. It was the very definition of an attractive noose. The Fenn treasure hunt began in 2010, when the wealthy art dealer hid a chest filled with gold and jewels from his personal collection somewhere in the Rocky mountains, then published a 24-line poem containing clues to its location. But a judge denied Bell's motion on Wednesday, per Outside. He says he retrieved it June 6, which raises some questions. LOL! The natural inclination for me would still be to research the man as much as possible. Journalist and amateur treasure seeker Daniel Barbarisi tells us what he learned from the search for Forrest Fenns treasure and what it was like to hold it in his hands. I do not know the person who found it, but the poem in my book led him to the precise spot, Fenn writes. I do have a question, but first I wanted to sincerely express how much I enjoyed your YouTube video on Bias Confirmation. Try 'Couzens Immortality Quotient'. However, the finder understands how important closure is for many searchers, so today he agreed that we should reveal that the treasure was found in Wyoming.. One of the people who searched unsuccessfully for the treasure, Jamie McCracken, filed a claim against Fenn's estate. "When I finally found it, the primary emotion was not joy but rather the most profound feeling of relief in my entire life," Stuef wrote. or rather suddenly (like, if not specifically, the things Forrest Fenn lists: mudslides, forest fires, earthquakes, and floods)? If the answer is yes, would you specify whether that information is in the poem, or in the hints in the book? He has been identified as the person who found Rocky Mountain treasure. My name is Jack Stuef, and I am the finder of the Forrest Fenn Treasure. POWELL The identity of the "finder" of Forrest Fenn's famed treasure has been revealed as Jack Stuef, a 32-year-old Michigan resident, though the location remains a mystery. And it works as a poem that tells a coherent story. Sooooo, is there an album or artist that you listened to that sticks out when you reminisce back on your WY adventures ? No. He is currently a Senior Editor at The Athletic, after years as a reporter atThe Wall Street JournalandThe Providence Journal. Would you answer the question the same way? If something had happened to him and he never had the chance to answer questions about the treasure hunt, I would have had a harder time believing it was real, so I may have just decided there was too much uncertainty and never searched. The Finder says it took him 25 full days of scouring one specific area to locate the treasure. I was trying to chronicle the hunt and also trying to be a treasure hunter. However, there are a couple of anomalies: I understand how, in the absence of information, people fill that void in with theories. But, Michigan native Jonathan "Jack" Stuef has now made his identity public after a federal court order against Fenn's estate would have made his name public. Why Ultralight People Need to Chill Already, Kershaw Iridium Review: A Great Flipping Knife Under $100. He was 32 years old at the time of the find. I think a majority of searchers were looking for a linear solution to a non-linear equation. Jack Stuef. Theres a lot of lure to that treasure box. I didnt ask him that, but it wouldnt surprise me. The treasure was found by Jack Stuef in June 2020, but for a dedicated community of internet sleuths, the hunt isn't over . Fenn later came out and said its in the Rockies and my hypothesis was that he didnt want this to end too fast and hed expanded the area to four states. When Forrest Fenn announced his famed treasure was claimed in June, he said he wouldnt reveal the finders identity without his permission. Congratulations once again and thanks for your time. Right away I just followed him around and felt like it was a good chance to chronicle him. The fake blaze thing he hasnt quite figured out and I havent either. Jack Stuef has not revealed the location where he found Forrest Fenn's treasure chest. Fenn told Davis where he stashed the treasure so that Davis could determine if the area could handle extra foot traffic from tourists who wanted to visit the treasures former location. Theres more than one you can cross, where youre feeling the self-hate and self-loathing of not finding it. Ive been working on Forrests poem for about 8 years and would love to pose a few questions if youd indulge me. He admitted that he first heard about the treasure on Twitter in early 2018 and couldnt believe that it had escaped his notice for so long. Department of Banking and Securities. they look for three tangible signs of the treasure's former location . A lot of my solves got two steps in and there really wasnt much else. September 7, 2020 Fenns family announces that Fenn has died of natural causes. June 6 Fenn writes on his blog that the treasure has been found. first off i would just like to congratulate you. I think a lot of people would come to see it, and it would give a lot of closure to a lot of people. In support of that motion, the parks chief ranger, Davis, signed an affidavit stating that in August 2020, two months after the treasure was found, she had a Zoom meeting with Fenn and Stuef, during which they told her where the treasure had been stashed. Chicago lawyer Barbara Andersen claimed in a lawsuit filed in New Mexico federal court in June that whomever found the treasure had hacked her emails and texts to do so a claim that Stuef. I am still trying to solve the poem on my own. Fenn died of natural causes in September at his home in Santa Fe, his family confirmed to ABC News. But, look, there are things I dont know as well. I knew where it was, so if someone else found it, I wouldnt need to see a chest-sized depression to know where it was. Also, and perhaps you can answer this question, did Forest know at the time that he made an error? Thats not too much to give away because theres a million canyons. Thats tough to say because I wasnt tracking myself with GPS and being systematic enough in 2018, but my feeling when I first went there early in the search season in 2019 was that it was an area of the forest I had never been in before. No, Jack Stuef did not know Forrest Fenn before finding his treasure chest. People have speculated that it was all a hoax or a publicity stunt and that the treasure chest may actually still be out there. As far as you know, is that a true statement? You have the ability to speak to the person who created the hunt. I ask that second question because I know I would have gone through it piece by piece. That hed know when it was found. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. The things that seem crazy when you start seem normal a year or two into it. I live in the Adelaide Hills, in South Australia. I think he got into his groove with handling interviews quickly, and I certainly looked at and watched and listened to everything. It was under a canopy of stars in the lush, forested vegetation of the Rocky Mountains and had not moved from the spot where I hid it more Its been a month since Forrest Fenn announced his treasure was claimed, but the public is still not much closer to knowing the bountys location or finder. In terms of looking at that as a concept, you have to look at why people search for this thing. In a sense, by putting the chest in Yellowstone, Fenn booby-trapped his hiding spot. It was during Jacks early years in the scientific medical program that he got into Forrest Fenns treasure chase and could not let go. The then-unnamed hunter had sent Forrest a photo to confirm his discovery. Department of General Services. Thanks. Then, in July, it came out that it was found in Wyoming. ABC News' Marilyn Heck and Clayton Sandell contributed to this report. Many speculate that Fenn is extending a courtesy to the finder for tax purposes, keeping the federal government in the darksince they likely manage Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. An affidavit in an ongoing lawsuit confirms that the treasure was buried in iconic areas of the United States, and now officials are struggling with how to keep the treasure's location from being released. You all deserve to finally move forward and live in peace. (I even planned hunts and rockhounding adventures in the area before the treasure was found, just in case, you know, Id stumble across it.). The nuggets, the gold coins, the ancient artifacts are cool on their face. Davis surveyed the area the following week and concluded that the spot was not set up to handle the increased foot traffic that revealing the location might bring. And no, Jack is not revealing the final resting place of the treasure chest. At that time, it had been going on for 7 years and I had not heard of it. Shiloh Forrest Old is a grandson of Forrest Fenn, the man who buried the treasure. The managerial and administrative aspects, along with the study hours actually required to be successful in the course, are what we think it refers to. My responses are all in bold below. For a little more than a decade, hundreds of thousands of people searched for a box of gold, jewelry, and rare coins hidden by the eccentric art dealer Forrest Fenn. His name is Jack Stuef, and in June, he found the treasure famously buried by author and retired art dealer Forrest Fenn somewhere in the Rocky Mountains, with a poem from Fenn's memoir, The. Thanks Donna. I think maybe Forrest knew the blaze was damaged when he left the chest, and thats why you would have been wise to find it. Did you figure out hoB before you ever went BOTG to your search area? In an effort to prove that Fenn didnt move the treasure, his lawyer revealed that Fenn told Yellowstone National Parks chief ranger, Sarah Davis, where it was hidden. A grandson of Forrest Fenn has confirmed that a medical school student from Michigan found a more than $1 million treasure chest that the retired art and antiquities dealer. As far as other things, some things will come out over time, but nothing revelatory in the sense that it changes everything. Stuef . I never could find a blaze from there that would take me off the trail.. Therefore, he has removed all possible personal information from public platforms. Trash & recycling. His family wants that stuff to remain private, so I will not reveal if I did or not. He is right that there are no man-made trails in the vicinity, but there are some game trails. 2. GearJunkie Copyright 2013 2023. Filled with gold and precious gems, Fenn's treasure is valued up to $2 million. After his death, Stuef published an ode to Fenn on Medium under the byline "The Finder." Or do you think you were just able to tap into some good info through the internet (scrapbooks, videos, interview) That helped you compute out the solution? December 7, 2020 Outside Magazine publishes an article titled The Man Who Found Forrest Fenns Treasure, written by Daniel Barbarisi. Jack first joined The Thrill of The Chase and the hunt for Fenn's treasure in 2018. The latter seems more likely. Jack Stuef is the native of Michigan and medical school student who found Forrest Fenn's treasure chest in 2020 at an undisclosed location in Wyoming. The lawsuits make some pretty outrageous claims. But cmon.). French treasure hunter is suing Forrest Fenn's estate for $10million after claiming he was cheated out of finding hidden chest filled with gold and coins because it was MOVED after he solved. Yes, all the other clues are recognizable out there at this point the same as when he hid it, but none of them were as susceptible to damage as the blaze was. It may have been bigger than a football field, but keep in mind thats the total limits of what I thought was possible. By Clicking "OK" or any content on this site, you agree to allow cookies to be placed. They were not happy about this fake blaze, and their anger was expressed very similarly to the anger that Jack Stuef expressed about the fake blaze he encountered. I mean was it like a football oval size area, or something bigger or smaller? Begin ittake it Is it and actual thing and not simply your quest? In a frivolous lawsuit, one accuses Fenn of deliberately terminating the quest by falsely . Hope you are doing well. Yes. It taught me that I am as gullible as everyone else. To learn more, check with your department of interest. His name is Jack Stuef. My only Wyoming solve was my first one and it was (very) weak. Scan this QR code to download the app now. He was 90 years old. Did you indeed walk a human trail for a portion of your solve, or not? The finder of the Forrest Fenn treasure chest was announced on December 7th, 2020. A burner account u/inthewood33 posted this link July 15, 2018 with a description and images of a shovel and rock and crossbones that they found and interpreted as a fake blaze.. I dont have a logical explanation for it. A lawsuit against the late Forrest Fenn's estate revealed that his $1 million treasure chest was buried in Yellowstone National Park A Florida treasure hunter claims Fenn moved the treasure. 1. Worse than that, he wouldnt say where it had been hidden. Although, I can speak for myself that I had a lot of fun and many times felt like Alice in Wonderland :). I was honestly surprised it survived that. You can check out the tweets below. Who and where, Fenn writes. When it did happen, he was in it. His name is Jack Stuef. As you read, youll laugh at misadventures, find relief when the treasure is found, and still have questions. Fenn teased the treasures location in his 2010 memoir The Thrill of the Chase. In particular, a 24-line poem was used as the only information needed to discover the box left unburied in the Rocky Mountains. I put all this to tax attorney Larry Brant, who I consulted with. According to the CNN article released 1 hour ago; "Stuef said he'll never reveal the location where he found the chest to preserve the wildlife there and prevent other explorers from following his trail, which could be dangerous." It was at least good because nobody was looking there. In some strange way, it will make me smile knowing you are the only person who can truly smile back.either as a delighted nod or a pitiful shake of the head! He Doesn't Mind, In a First, Subjects to Be Asked to Pledge Allegiance to King, Fountain of Youth? Service updates. When I interviewed him in 2014, Fenn said he wanted to make the contents of his treasure chest look like a pirate movie, so he filled it with the most visually stunning items he could find: diamonds, rubies, and gold. Allen, hypotheticals are always difficult to answer with any accuracy. I dont get off on being withholding. Or that every word was intentional? Is any part of the solve outside of Wyoming? But then, it also seems like Stuef knew he was going to find the treasure long before he did. Moreover, Jack does not want his family to be subjected to the stalkers, death threats, home invasions, frivolous lawsuits, and potential kidnappings that Forrest Fenn and his family had to face between 2010 and 2020. Thanks Spallies. Overall, he saw it as a force for good and wanted to protect it. Today, I looked at my inbox, and I have received over . Are place names on a map relevant at all to the clues in the poem? Fenn collapsed and died at home in Santa Fe in September of 2020. Maybe you can ask the DIA if they have a key for their version of the chest. You would think so. 1. 3. He revealed his identity to Outside in December of that year, just before being added as a defendant to one. (The affidavit doesnt specifically state that the treasure was in the park, just that the location is owned by the U.S. government and managed by the Department of the Interior. The decade-long search for Forrest Fenns treasure ended two years ago, but the hunt for answers has not. The Man Who Found Forrest Fenns Treasure,, four best theories on Fenns treasure location, MeatEater Land Access Initiative Donation, American Buffalo: In Search of a Lost Icon. Finding this thing, achieving this will prove every naysayer wrong. If so, was this info part of the ancillary evidence that aided you in the search? In my opinion, everything you said was point on. Thankfully, the ratio of kind emails like yours to weird threats and conspiracy theories has been really high. Thats the reason or excuse to search for it, but not the why. Does the Semicolon mean anything? That kinda blew my mind, that someone actively searching could be so close and not know. Some services are being offered online or by appointment. Its strange but yes, it seems like something that very much colored [Stuefs] hunt. You find one or two things that make you think this may be a workable area. According to a document that recently turned up on a treasure-hunting forum, Stuef applied for tax status and apparently moved to Puerto Ricowhere there is almost no capital gains taxin September 2019, nine months before he found the treasure. Wed have to define too big, but right around the time I was getting into it was when there were three deaths in a month. I am the person who found Forrests famed treasure. Me personally, I was never a good treasure hunter. For a treasure hunt that was supposed to be real-life Indiana Jones, the finale left everyone jonesing for more information. With a bronze chest and the lock appearing in good condition, why is the key steel/iron? He was 32 years old at the time of the find. Evidence it was the place he wanted to die and evidence he saw the path there the way he describes seeing it in the poem. Did Forest know when you spoke to him that hed made an error in the past? At this point, they've done a good job at figuring out the bounds of what I feel I can responsibly share about my . At that time, you can make your decision on whether to keep it all, give it to me, subtract or add items, or whatever else you may decide.. By signing up for email newsletters, you agree to GearJunkie's, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window). I for one, was in the court of the poem being straight forward. And not that it matters at all to you, but I just wanted to put my thoughts in a final resting place with the person who did what no one else could. Was the damage the blaze suffered just poor dumb luck (like a tree falling, of all places, directly on the blaze or a localized landslide on an apparently stable slope occurring right at the chest site), or did Forrest Fenn simply grossly underestimate the ravishes of time and the forces of nature? Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Assistant US attorney Kimberley Bell tried to prevent that. The key was highly rusted and it looks like it wouldnt have lasted another decade. "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," the poem began. The end of the treasure hunt may finally be drawing to a close. Assuming that Brown was not Forrests name for the chest and that hoB is something that you need to be BOTG in the right area in order to identify, then its unlikely Ill ever be able to get past that point in the poem. After Fenn died in September it seemed like that day would never come. After that, it was just going to be this big crazy treasure hunt where people were going to die. And then its past tense because youve then done everything you need to do to find the treasure at that point. and our Barbarisi reveals that The Finder is ready to lose his anonymity. I have seen it, but I havent read it. Thanks Jack! i bought the book a few years ago and half heartedly followed on the internet but didnt put in the effort that you did nor am i nearly as clever:). Address for ZIP Code of Address; ZIP Code of Address City; ZIP Code of Address State All Rights Reserved. I know you found the chest in WY, but does the chase begin outside of that state? But now the most recent Fenn lawsuit has shown that Fenn did actually tell someone exactly where the treasure was, very soon after it was found. It was not a disappointment at all. I am curious what you think and would appreciate your feedback, is this a tremendous amount of confirmation bias or a plethora of red herrings? Stuef would be under oath and could be compelled to reveal the exact location of the treasure. Ive spent so much time working on it that I feel the need for that closure to find what I missed. Specifically, was it the damage that threw you off, or not knowing exactly what that blaze was at that first encounter? Today, I looked at my inbox, and I have received over 2,400 emails from searchers. Two of them are larger than a hens egg.. On May 4, judge Francis J. Mathew denied the governments motion to intervene in the case, saying that doing so would cause undue delay, and that the government has other avenueslike an injunction in federal courtif it wants to keep the location of the treasure a secret. Its not about the money. For more information, please see our However, the author of this document, speculates that Jack ultimately found the treasure in a totally different location using some ulterior, less than honorable means. A subreddit devoted to finding the hidden treasure of Forrest Fenn Hands down! One last question referring to your previous answer, if you dont mind! If you were free and clear of any legal worries, would you want other searchers, who developed a fondness of Forrest and his Chase over the years, to know the special spot? He also confirmed his find on his Twitter account. By Julia Jacobo December 8, 2020, 11:16 AM 2:19 National headlines from ABC News He is a medical student in Michigan with actual student loans (as some have speculated to be false from his previous Medium article on the chest find). If Fenns lawyers do question Stuef, then McCrackens legal team will also get a chance. Its probably something that was in the back of his mind that he came back to occasionally to work on.