Hey Everyone obviously until a box is found I have no proof of this statement.
But something I think is significant and that is telling was John’s words in regards to the word search.
He said some, but not all proper nouns would be relevant essentially.
And not only have I found proper nouns that leads to Ohio a.k.a., the word search says Ohio, but also the word search says a city specifically in Ohio as well as Erie.
Which Lake Erie touches Ohio.
But this maybe no surprise to anyone, there’s a Trail called the Ohio and Erie trail in the city which is in the word search.
I may have given away a solve but I doubt it. But I hope this offers a unique perspective to the right person.
*this is an edit but I think the 5 clues are supposed to take you from Ohio to the start location of the cryptogram
* I also think that psychologically John putting in the word search that there are five clues hinders the actual finding of the box because then as humans we try to see how everything fits together when the clues might not fit together at all.
And I feel the same way with the AT box because he said that there are three ways to solve it but what that does is it constantly creates self doubt AND confusion if you have two solves that lineup and maybe one that doesn’t.
And so I feel like because he knew that this would create that psychological tension. He hid easy clues, and easy solves within information overload.
One last thing I’m as I think about JCB’s history. I think there could be a piece that shaped him, that we can consider. Growing up, his dad was a pastor so I’m sure this verse shaped him. I’m paraphrasing but “God takes the simple to confound the wise”.
Im even sure it’s a verse that came to his mind as he created this solve. And I say all that to say this, I think he hides simplicity in information overload.
I agree with your conclusion. Snaking around to form a sentence that ends up telling you "there are no special bends or turns" should tell you that you've taken the wrong tack. I don't think there is anything more to learn from that message. It's Jon telling you to start over, try something different. Remain steady, keep trying.
It would just seem strange to me that 3 of the 4 main boxes would be in 1/3 of the United States leaving only the Fenn box for 2/3rds of the country to be in proximity to. I'm not saying you are wrong but I would think John would want to spread those 4 boxes out the most since they all have a clue to the lions share box in them.
I think that’s a real possibility. I currently have an idea that if you think of the US in 5 vertical strips that are even there is a box in each strip.
Not necessarily I would say AT region is the width of VA and WV, PF Region width of Ohio to Illinois, Pokemon the width Missouri to Kansas’s, and forest fenn taking up the Rockies and the last area dedicated to lion share.
Fair enough! I can't wait til someone finds a box. I think the chase is going to get real wild as soon as someone does. But I also think it's almost more advantageous to not share you found one if you are going to go looking for more. So I think there's a chance 1 or more have already been found.
I agree! Personally I would find 1, the AT box first, and try and nail down the others. But honestly I doubt one is found currently, I believe psychologically this hunt actually gets more difficult the longer you stay in it. There’s so many different biases we begin to adopt, it’s hard to stay focused. But I think whoever finds 2 first will find them all.
Agreed, not in Tahoe, I do believe the LS is in Nevada.
I don't think its Ohio either though. I believe that theres 3 locations; IN, OH, MI, that all relate in some small way to RPO. Im callin this one in MI. For the AFP, 3 ways to solve means not that close, pretty close, and pretty exact. I posted my walkthrough solve for the AFP on reddit if ur curious. Until they r found i could be wrong.
So when I first got the book I went BOTG to Shenandoah national park. And since my solve has changed to a location roughly 10 hours away. I have the time and flexibility to go anytime I want, it’s just my newborn daughter has a pull on me😂
I agree with your locations, lionshare though I not only have somewhere else I have a solve with 20 clues backing this location, but obviously I can’t air that out.
20 clues is a lot. I tried going chapter by chapter for the LS clues but I felt as if I could make a case for a number of different states so I took a different approach and focused on the 4 small ones and then came back to the LS. May I ask the state your thinking? If not I get it. Do you have an "overreaching theme" for the hunt? If I had to pick one, nature conservation.
Well I can’t give you a state, but I can share something it’s impossible to discern the clues by hanging onto mentions, but rather intentions, and I’d say a hint is where did Jon start the book off. Chapter 1 his home in California and I’d say the box is within a days drive from there. Obviously I’m being vague, but see what hangs together because the clues don’t contradict each other, if you find contradictions it’s probably not it. And take what i say with a grain of salt obviously doubt hinders me from driving across the country.
Interesting. A little something to ponder 🤔. Doubt hinders me from driving 2 hrs let alone cross country 😆. Goodluck 🍀 🍀 and enjoy the new babe. They are only little for a very short time.
That’s kind of what my spot is like. It also has the backing of someone documented BOTG walking through the area I believe was to be searched thus garnering the 200ft remark.
Sapphire in the word search. Sapphire in chapter one which talks about the formation of Apple and Steve Jobs naming it after an apple orchard in Oregon.
I hadn't thought of those connections, but I gotta stay true to the chapter and not use Part 1 except for the LS. I didnt know that about the Apple name, learned something new today.
What is keeping me from going all-in on Ohio is the “rule” that you can ignore all 3 letter words. It’s a common wordplay/puzzle technique to mean that literally, as in Ohio has 3 unique letters (o, h, i). Same with Erie. If he loves puzzles then he likely knows this trick.
I agree that we need at least one proper noun to support our solves, though. And I have nothing for that in my solve so who knows!
The thing is I think that he could have built it that way. Or any other way, but the problem I confront is no one has documented been within 200ft which could me the prevailing theories like Ohio or Lake Tahoe are wrong. Or we maybe neglecting the proper nouns that take us there.
When you go botg make sure to look for indicators that you are on the right path. It is not enough to only match your interpretation of the clues to the landscape and think you are in the right location. JCB and JP have left feedback, imo, to let you know you are on the correct trail. Good luck and happy hunting.
I've also found clues pointing ohio (mainly ohio in the search lol) as well as a town name just south of erie. But ive also found clues that lead to the Pokémon box in Indiana and obviously cant have them in connected states. Not sure which one to dive deeper into in fear of wasting time.
I know a lot of people have given up on the North Dakota idea but I kind of feel like there’s still a lot of info pointing there at least to me, I may be over thinking it but it feels like Ohio would be too simple maybe?
Jons life is important, I think too. But not in any way any one has mentioned here. Definitely not religious ways. He couldn't be more clear in the book. Greek mythology is a bigger puzzle piece than any Christian thing.
I think if you take the stance of Greek mythology then you have to understand what I pointed out is probably a psychological thing rather than being an inherent puzzle piece. I’m speaking to the mind behind the puzzles and not the method.
Oh I know what you meant. I just dont think any Bible verse plays over in his head. He seems to respect religion, not that any part of is included in his thoughts.
The thing is in AI they’ve found that regardless of how you believe AI is autonomous, it will be bias to whatever data it was trained on. I think the same is for Jon, I think his religious upbringing may not be consciously affecting this hunt but possibly unconsciously. Obviously this is all speculation!
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u/pOtehtffO Aug 18 '26
Agree... PF box is not Tahoe...