Agony of defeat in finding Fenn's treasure chest

[simpleson]

I’ve gone botg twice. 2018 and 2019. I live a distance away so packing up the family is not cheap. Both times I had sites to search. I was completely confident in my solution before arrival but once there they didn’t feel right. The pandemic has most likely postponed this year’s search. And after twice bitten it’s harder to justify.

The threads here discussing if all clues are solved from home before going out get you thinking. I’ll admit my first search was a newbie solution. In hindsight it had flaws. But my second was solid. It had it all. It aligned with the known facts, subtle hints from book, connections recognized in the scrapbooks, answers by Forrest seen as clever. Then I went and no chest. Agony of defeat back. I wasn’t sure I could have had a better solution but now I have a third one. It’s got it all. How do you feel confident again and guard against the agony of defeat? Feedback asked for.
Thank you in advance.

[Jenny]

For myself, treasure hunts have always been a ‘bonus’…..they have inspired my family and I to explore locations we most likely wouldn’t have normally traveled to (or traveled to so much..lol)…..…..

While anytime I go BOTG, and with either just my husband or some of the kids along, we are first going to enjoy the area…. Although the treasure hunt instigated going to that particular area, and we go searching with confidence, it is still a ‘bonus’ activity. And I'm always so grateful for the time spent.....

I’ve shared many times, and in my book Armchair Treasure Hunts, that I keep in mind the advice given in the Beale Phamplet of 1885: mysteriouswritings.com/lost-treasure-and-the-beale-cipher/


“devote only such time as can be spared from your legitimate business to the task, and, if you can spare no time, let the matter alone.”



For me, it is more an exciting adventure/hobby to enjoy. I feel it's so wonderful to have the Chase, and love it, but I keep it in a perspective that works for me to not get feeling ruffled. I'm perfectly happy to work on it when time allows, and if someone finds it before me, I'll be happy then too..... Life is a Chase...all the various paths of it! To me, Forrest Fenn's treasure is just one of the many.....

[earthshaker42]

It is odd how we look a this. If this was the Boston Marathon nobody here would be upset about not winning. Sure the top 100 runners might be upset, but the rest of the people would be happy. The bottom half of the race would be very happy just to say they ran it. They got in it to be in it and had fun. That was enough. I have not been back into the mountains in more than 15 years. Last summer I spent 3 weeks by myself remote camping and packing from Colorado to the Canadian boarder at Glacier. I didn't have a solve then, just time and freedom. It was the best time I had in years. It reminded me that life is too short. I need to reassess my priorities. Even now, as I am on the string to be fired, I can think about my time in the mountains and relax. It will work out. And I know I will be a lot happier.

One morning last summer, far up some trail to no where, a group of sand-hill cranes started dancing and calling. They were 100 yards or so away. Their call boomed down the valley I was in as the sun just started to peak through the mountains. If you get a chance it is one of the best alarm clocks ever. Their call was the only sound. It echoed down the valley and back. The air was still. The pond below me a mirror. I don't use a tent so when I sat up we were all eye to eye. They gave me a look then went back to dancing and calling. I stayed in my bag (shifting to look up the valley at the cranes), made coffee, toasted a thanks to Forrest and watch the cranes until the sun forced me out of my bag. I had nowhere to be but there in the mountains.

We are in a marathon, hundreds of times bigger than that little one in Boston. Only one person is going to that chest. Maybe this spring, maybe in 200 years. The size of this race is just so big. Statistically none of us are going to find the gold (except for me). All of us can have fun if we look for it. And if we are not having fun in the mountains, maybe we need to rethink how we are approaching the chase. Not just you, me and all of us.

My first and only boots on the ground was total newbie fail too. It was great to be in the mountains and fun to be on a quest. But it sucked to fail. My wife was all about me going and, like me, was bummed. It did make me rethink and take Forrest at his word. You can't solve this in a weekend. That was three years ago. I looked a little more on line that summer then put the chase aside. It did make me want to get back into the mountains and it led to the three week trip. I had the poem in my mind on that trip but no where to look so I was free to see what was there.

It is all perspective. How is it that the worth of the gift in front of me is based on other events and not it's actual worth? I didn't find the chest and my life sucks. OR I didn't find the chest, but had a great trip. I felt both of those. One from the first trip, one from the second. Exact same outcome and same gift. I have to work on my perspective.

So I agree with you, losing sucks. Don't lose. I didn't on my second trip.

[simpleson]

Thanks. From comments above I realize it's keeping a positive perspective and outlook while not letting myself become obsessed.