St. Paddy’s Day again, but can anyone find the treasure Fenn?
Leprechaun Forrest Fenn renewed his St. Patrick’s challenge to the world AGAIN this year to find his treasure chest full of gold and jewels. But is Fenn really another forgetful Leprehaun who has left his geo-data in rhyme? Or a leprechaun man laughing at me er the world?
Quick recap for those who haven’t been following the Fenn fiasco. The world’s most famous leprechaun claims he left a treasure chest full of gold jewelry and gemstones somewhere in Santa Fe. To claim it you just need to divine the real meaning in his rhyme.
Now everyone knows the only thing more common than a leprechaun lifting your pants or your shoes on St. Patrick’s Day is a leprechaun looking for his lost loot. You’ll see them wandering the streets late at night this time of year, muttering and confused, dressed in festive green and asking for help.
But these fairweather fae generally move on with the next rainbow and a cup of minty coffee.
But not Forrest Fenn. Again and again, year after year, this old school leprechaun asks you and me to please find – and keep – his treasure chest. In it, he claims is a 17th century Spanish emerald ring, a ruby-studded bracelet, small diamonds and emeralds. along with, I still suspect, my long-missing pants.
Now the hunt for Fenn’s treasure has been on for more than 7 years and claimed more than a few lives, and still nobody has claimed it. Still every year at this time, survivors like yours truly buy his book of clues, download his map, and pack a bag for Santa Fe hoping for the luck of the Irish.
There are, Fenn claims, nine clues in the poem below.
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 drawing ever 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.
Me, I haven’t decided yet if I will try my luck again this year. But if you are thinking to give it a shot, I can tell you this much:
How To NOT Find Forrest Fenn’s Treasure
- DO NOT start by calling all the “homes of Brown,” in Santa Fe. It only lead to legal trouble in the form or a DO NOT CALL order.
- DO NOT email Forrest Fenn. He won’t send you any clues but he may put you on his mailing list and unless you have a good spam filter you REALLY don’t want to be on a leprechaun’s mailing list.
- DO NOT rely on clover-leaf power if you have far to travel. For starters, you won’t get them past the border. Sniffer dogs love them.
- DO NOT wear green. I know it’s St. Patrick’s Day but it will only make it harder for the Santa Fe park rangers to find you should you happen to get hopelessly lost on the trail.
If you do celebrate this St. Paddy’s day hoping to find Forrest Fenn’s fickle treasure chest, may the luck of the Irish be with you.