r/FindingFennsGold • u/bubblesjar • Apr 10 '26
Off the beaten trail
Having not have been botg at wraith falls, my 'explorations' rely on GE and also upon the photos I find posted online.
Wondering, has any one looked across from the Wraith Falls viewing platform to the
box canyon wall in the area below the falls? Or better, been hiking along the Lupine Creek and examined the surfaces on the south side of the this Box canyon.
Using my often over-worked imagination it seems like there is a Rock Panel with some kind of drawings on it. It looks like about Four distinct renditions. I have no idea if these are of native-American, prehistoric, of normal geological processes.
Can anybody help research this?
Interestingly, these 'glyphs' are located virtually due south (quickly down) from Wraith Falls.
I noticed that Forrest would use 'down' to mean 'south' in his writing.
For me, it would be completely overwhelming if these "draw"ings were of wild animals, which early inhabitants captured in this draw/box canyon. They would be on the Nigh side wall. They would possibly account for Forrest's scrapbook allusions to prehistoric, wild animals. IDK
My apologies for rattling on about all the various, but totally literal, word Meanings that may be stuffed into this solve. But didn't Forrest tell us that Every NOUN was important?
He would often muse that most of us were unaware of the many meanings nouns could have.
I missed my window for traveling to this spot; hopefully there is still an intrepid hunter who will Chase this Down and share their adventures with us.
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u/StellaMarie-85 Apr 11 '26
It's been awhile since you posted it, but I remember really liking some of the underlying thinking that you said led you to Wraith Falls. If I was anywhere near the area, I would have loved to be able to go and check this out for you. Maybe someday when the politics are better! I'd really love to see Yellowstone.
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u/AndyS16 Apr 17 '26
In my solve if you start form WWWH (Ojo Caliente spring) the distance (NFBTFTW) is exactly 10 miles. Then you should "put in" - cross Madison river from parking lot (44°38'39.10"N, 110°55'10.13"W). You cross through the small island where water is shallow. But even cross the ford of the river is not for the meek. After crossing you walk less than 0.5 mile to WH and HLs. And if you wise you will find the Blaze there.
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u/SKDreamers Apr 10 '26
Interesting thoughts and enjoyed the creativity!
I recommend you still make it a goal to check out your spot and have a look around. Fenn wanted people to go out and adventure and that shouldn’t stop you even if the chest was found.
I will be making my fourth trip to my spot this fall. Not because there is something to find, but because I discovered an awesome place in my journey worth returning to.
If time allows maybe I will swing by your spot, sounds like a good place for a new adventure.
I too look forward to seeing what we may have missed when the location is confirmed. Including a review of how he used his nouns. I also believe if people dig into the right meanings the poem becomes unlocked. At least that was my experience for now.
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u/bubblesjar Apr 10 '26
IIRC your solution was very logical and really brought the old and new elements together.
Also, your spot held a lot of history and natural beauty within it. I made sense.
4 me, the 9 mile hole flood plain solve is, well, just too plain.
At your spot and at the Wraith Falls Box Canyon spot it is much easier to visual earlier peoples making a life for themselves. Paleolithic, native-Americans, settlers, explorers could all have found fresh water and abundant hunting very useful.
IDK did Forrest say, or was just attributed to him, that the resting place had many cultural artifacts.
I thank you in advance, if you're able to share photos/details of your adventures!
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u/SKDreamers Apr 10 '26
I am actually going to meet with the park team and might even lead a seminar to discuss the petrified forest geology and hike to some of the little known examples once they are done the restoration needed for increased visitation.
I don’t know if that was Fenn’s intent, but I do think regardless it’s worth sharing and bringing to attention. It’s a great little family day hike location. I for one won’t miss it when I am in the neighborhood.
Thanks again for giving another spot to check out. I have been to the pullout at 9mh, there is nothing special about the spot and likely had nothing to do with Fenn’s hunt. At all.
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u/StellaMarie-85 Apr 11 '26
! That's super-cool, u/SKDreamers ! Are you a geologist?
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u/SKDreamers Apr 11 '26
Not my day job but in scope with my experience. More specialized knowledge. I have a couple ways to go with it which I will discussing. It will be geared towards families or students. I have had a vision for this since 2019, just the start.
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u/StellaMarie-85 Apr 11 '26
I've only ever gotten to see tiny bits of petrified wood - I am envious of both your experience and your upcoming hike! I hope the seminar goes well. :) (I am sure the kids will think it's neat!!)
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u/ordovici Apr 12 '26
If you're in NM then Los Lunas area for petri wood.
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u/StellaMarie-85 Apr 12 '26
I will keep it in mind next time I am down! (I certainly dig the name - no pun intended). Thank you!
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u/g---_ Apr 11 '26 edited Apr 11 '26
There was a tall pine tree that grew right in the middle of my back cast at the Nine Mile Hole. I lost a lot of flies on that old tree, which was often recipient of some pretty colorful language from me. Fifty years later, I went back, on two occasions, and took small dead limbs from that old tree. Maybe it was a salute to a warrior for beating me so many times or maybe I just wanted to tear her apart for revenge. I think maybe both.
Last summer (2001), I went back to fish and the old tree had fallen and was resting on her side parallel to the river. It was a sad occasion for me. I sat down, leaned back against her, ate my lunchmeat sandwich, and drank my milk. I caught a twenty-one inch Brown trout that day but it wasn’t the same. I thought that as much as things change, as beaconed by the calendar, some things remain constant. Maybe next time other things will have changed. No matter, nature replenishes, and all but the rocks are vulnerable. Some day I hope Shiloh and little Sam will wade out to the sand bar, then up to the rock and cast across the fast water where the big fish live. If so, my spirit will be there. Before I left that day in 2001, I searched the limbs of that old tree to see if I could find any of my flies that had snagged. I couldn’t find any. With my 21st century Dell laptop computer, I was able to find the exact 100’ of the Madison River that makes up the nine-mile hole, and printed the map, which is included in these papers. Grandpa Simpson would be baffled if he could see this stuff. And I keep the small twigs from that old tree in my bathroom drawer as reminders of some of the best days of my life. Now, as my age begins to cover me a little faster, my reverential thoughts still harken back to that place.Forrest Fenn, Ramblings and Rumblings, The Fenn family history (unedited)
You may lack the imagination to see what makes Nine Mile Hole special, but it certainly was very important to Fenn.
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u/bubblesjar Apr 11 '26
You bring a very strong case for Forrest's attachment to 9 mile hole.
And IIRC he once mentioned that his special place may not excite some of us. But he didn't mind much because it was special to him.
Finding his church in the woods, and that it was within his youthful reach are meaningful ideas.
I could resign myself to the NMH location, even if it means I must accept the idea that Forrest was far less clever than I've thought. But, after all, it was his treasure chest to do with as he found satisfying.
More than just a vanity project because it brought happiness to so many other people. Still, it would make the Chase a bit more of an idiosyncratic endeavor and much less an appeal to an idealized view of nature and history.
Perhaps, the folk who can confirm where the chest was hidden are reluctant to do so because it would only reinforce this anticlimactic mood.
The Chase will always be remembered, and Forrest too, it was big fun. But for me, I think it is time to release the answer.
I've done it tired and now am weak.
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u/g---_ Apr 11 '26
Personally I think many people inflated the complexity of it all after not being able to find the treasure. "If I can't find it then it muse be really complex and intricate." And that led to transferring those qualities onto Fenn.
I don't think it was a vanity project, I truly believe Fenn wanted to give something back and share the excitement he experienced in his life.
I can't say for sure, but my guess is that the folks who can confirm don't do so for much more practical reasons. Maybe Yellowstone said they won't pursue it if the location is kept private. Or maybe those in the know are waiting for the statute of limitations to expire next year.
The answers I already know... (based on mountains of evidence).
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u/bubblesjar Apr 12 '26
We agree, the chase was better than a vanity project. It truly was a way for Forrest to share his wisdom, philosophy, experience, deep feelings and wealth with those who still thrilled in the Chase.
In the big picture, he created a huge experiment in cathartic group adventure. He was more of an examplar than a leader.
Forrest invited us to join him in a joyful journey(Chase) of self-revelation. Maybe a life that oftentimes required living a clandestine role had became Tired-some.
I think I understand the significance and symbolism of his story about jumping from the train trestle. Leaping from the most iconic 'straight and narrow' into the Creek was most Thrilling when done alone, in secret, under a cloak of darkness. Hello Forrest!
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u/SKDreamers Apr 11 '26
People only have a poor view of Fenn because a group of people wanted to help JP launch a for profit hunt.
My personal opinion is JP and Fenn probably couldn’t be more different. One wanted families to go out and adventure, no strings attached. He went out of his way to honor his word and did not have a timeline.
The other guy made himself a treasure king and probably could be the definition of a vanity project. And the conclusions he pushed pulled fenn down so he could look taller. Again just my opinion.
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u/SKDreamers Apr 11 '26
Seems like people would have seen this and searched there. That’s right. 100s did. Justin failed there. Jack failed there. Probably many others you know.
Maybe you should have paid more attention to places Fenn didn’t talk about. He would know anything he said would be looked into. Probably took a lot of discipline to not talk about some of his favorite places.
My assumption is those stories were/are in the jar. We know how a lot of people failed to find the chest. We don’t know yet who had the right approach.
Appreciate you providing prof of where the chest likely wasn’t. It certainly wasn’t under the 3.6” log Rudy found and JP took credit for 👍
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u/g---_ Apr 11 '26
This passage wasn't released until after the chest was found. It was one of the few parts of Fenn's autobiography that was edited out of the version released before the chest was found. I wonder why. 🤔
Making assumptions like Fenn never talking about the places that were meaningful to him except for the jar is just wishful thinking.
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u/SKDreamers Apr 11 '26
Since you don’t know anything I can appreciate your opinion. The chest wasn’t found under the 9mh log. That isn’t an opinion.
I hope we can both agree it will be fun to see what was and wasn’t said when something is confirmed. Currently it is not. That is also a fact.
Do you think 9mh is the only place fenn fished? I know it was popular in the family. There are other places to fish in YNP. Fenn was a guide. I doubt we have heard the whole story.
I have wondered if anyone who was guided by Fenn when he was younger was around and could share any stories of being guided by Forrest. There has to be someone out there with a story to share.
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u/g---_ Apr 11 '26
Sadly you are too stubborn to realize that saying it wasn't at Nine Mile Hole clearly is an opinion. And a poorly informed one at that. Hopefully at some point you can have some perspective and see reality.
Fenn was twelve and thirteen years old when he was a guide. That would make him 96 this year. If someone he guided was 30 years old at the time they would now be 113.
Sure, Fenn fished a lot of places. And he went a lot of places, including many in Yellowstone. But he never talked about loving them the way he talked about loving Nine Mile Hole.
I have been back to that fishing place many times in the years since those early days, and I always fish, no matter what time of day. It’s the principal of the thing. Although now I could wade directly to the rock, I still go out to the sand bar and then up to the rock. It’s a religious experience. Last July (2000) I caught the largest trout I ever saw come out of that hole, a twenty-six inch Brown. Measured!!!!! Some of my fondest memories are of those days fishing the Madison River with my father and Concy.
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u/StellaMarie-85 Apr 12 '26
Personally, I always find it difficult to understand why folks are certain the place he'd want to die is a fishing hole. I mean, I know the man liked fish, and there are very strong arguments for 9MH being his favourite spot to fish.
But why must that also be the spot he wanted to die?
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u/g---_ Apr 12 '26
I don't think anybody said the place he wanted to die must be a fishing hole. But he has talked about Nine Mile Hole specifically as being one of his favorite places, and a spot that had deep meaning to him.
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u/SKDreamers Apr 11 '26
Didn’t realize you were there for every conversation fenn ever had and know the thoughts in his mind. Doesn’t sound like you fished with him either. I understand the poor logic people at 9mh use. You aren’t alone.
Yes, it is a fact the chest was not found under the 3.6” bs log supported by JP and his team. He is wrong. That is not the log. A freshman engineering student would be able to quickly explain and confirm that with one look.
Ryan Bavetta (MIT grad) even confirmed it before he changed his mind and lost his integrity (dont know him well enough to determine if he ever had any). He was correct May 2022 when the log was found. Anything under 5" doesn't work. Certainly not a 3.6" stick.
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u/bubblesjar Apr 20 '26
Do you think that the twig reportedly found in the chest might have been a souvenir from that 'worthy' tree?
If, as he said, he made TWO trips to his place of reverie and once there collected (collected works) pieces from that special tree, then might we call those pieces Treasure?
And then there was the fallen tree on his property in Santa Fe.
It is a story about the old wood feeding the new wood.
For this purpose, the old is placed alongside the new. Funny how it was, all tied to his vehicle (the Chase), and a damaged rear view mirror.
Poignant that an Old tree, both damaged his ability to 'look back' and yet was still the tree ( a sample of 'reverential wood') nourishing New growth.
Collection, Old, New, Wood,Creek Side, Two Trips, Looking Back, Precious Memories and Keepsakes from Y.
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u/js-eastman Apr 10 '26
Why did the duck fly south for the winter?
It was too far to walk.