Finding Forrest Fenn’s Treasure: An Interpretation of the Poem

This article appeared in 2013, soon after Forrest Fenn announced his famous treasure. It continues to be a popular article on SantaFe.com.

To understand what the heck this article is about, please see this prior post.

First, here is Fenn’s original poem:

Now, here’s Ackam’s breakdown.

Here is the solution to the poem, with pictures at the end of this e-mail.

There are multiple meanings to most clues, and the sinister ones are also mixed in with the regular clues.

This one is the actual solution:

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.

= general location description =

Begin it where warm waters halt – Start at end of Rio Caliente – warm river = Chilli, NM
And take it in the canyon down, – Go through the canyon
Not far, but too far to walk. – too far to walk, drive
Put in below the home of Brown. – home of Brown = Bear shape pond, also brown water runoff and a ranch nearby.
From there it’s no place for the meek, – mostly tough, barren country, few homes
The end is ever drawing nigh; – nearing the end – also near the end of pipe – nigh=left
There’ll be no paddle up your creek, – dry river = road
Just heavy loads and water high. – only vehicles, and water runoffs from high hills
If you’ve been wise and found the blaze, – looked up to heavens and saw the blaze [in Google]
Look quickly down, your quest to cease, – look down, you are almost there
But tarry scant with marvel gaze, – short asphalt driveway, you are being watched
Just take the chest and go in peace. – take the chest, go inside the pipe with a cross – culvert

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. – = curse of the chase

So hear me all and listen good, – everybody hears, but good ones listen
Your effort will be worth the cold. – cold inside the pipe under the road
If you are brave and in the wood – if you opened the chest, box lined with wood
I give you title to the gold. – title = contract with the devil

Here is another interpretation – as he intended:

This hunt is not a charitable giveaway, as he would like you to believe. It’s really about the forces of good vs. evil.

As he has publicly stated, he is seeking eternal life, and has imparted a large part of his soul into the box, as well as into the bells he has made and buried; in hopes of attaining eternal life by cheating death and defying God. He is completely serious and believes/knows, that God will forgive him. God will forgive him, because that is the true nature of our loving God – unconditionally loving and forgiving. However, he does not know the full law of God, and he will likely be condemned.

Whoever opens the treasure, will be possessed by the spirit that he stashed inside the box, by taking over the body and destroying the soul of the unsuspecting finder or their child. His continuity would be on your or your child’s account.

He [they] would like to attract unaware adults, accompanied by their children. That is why he emphasizes and asks that you bring your children with you.

Here are some of Forrest Fenn’s quotes:

” A large part of me was left at that box, I felt it go in when I closed the lid the last time ”

“ When a person finds that treasure chest, whether it’s tomorrow or 10,000 years from now and opens the lid, they are going to go into shock. It is such a sight.”

” Valuable enough to entice searchers and desirable enough visibly to strike awe.”

Awe is “an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime”

He also says “two people can keep a secret if one of them is dead” = he means in the same body

Symbols in his book: Double Omega = double death, Alpha – single new beginning

Fenn: “Life adventures are like thunderstorms. It gets dark, the wind blows, everyone runs for cover. A few people get wet … then it’s gone, until the next one. And the survivors are those with the biggest umbrella.”

As I have gone alone in there – went inside there alone
And with my treasures bold, – empty treasure – incomplete/no spirit
I can keep my secret where, – he will keep his secret there
And hint of riches new and old. – and hint of ancient and new secrets
Begin it where warm waters halt – at this point pleasant nature ends
And take it in the canyon down, – down – represents descent towards hell
Not far, but too far to walk. – not a long trip – happens quickly
Put in below the home of Brown. – you be will be dead – in spirit
From there it’s no place for the meek, – after that – no place for good people
The end is ever drawing nigh; – end is nearing
There’ll be no paddle up your creek, – stuck up the creek without a paddle
Just heavy loads and water high. – only burden and a sense of drowning
If you’ve been wise and found the blaze, – if you discover blaze/golden mirrors
Look quickly down, your quest to cease, – and look in – you are done for
But tarry scant with marvel gaze, – you will be blinded shortly
Just take the chest and go in peace. – take his spirit and rest in peace
So why is it that I must go – he has to do it – has no choice
And leave my trove for all to seek? – law of the chase
The answers I already know, – he knows that now, but it is too late
I’ve done it tired, and now I’m weak – he is now weak and tired of “the chase”
So hear me all and listen good, – everybody hears, but good ones listen
Your effort will be worth the cold. – warning – you will be out cold,
If you are brave and in the wood – evil, and dead as wood
I give you title to the gold. – you will get the contract with the devil