![]() Another 3 miles upstream is the Buffalo Bill Dam which holds back the heavy loads of the Buffalo Bill reservoir. Irrigation is critical to the viability of Cody and I believe this represents the “water high” clue. ![]() This image shows one excursion putting in at DeMaris Hot Springs (which is in Colter’s Hell) and taking out downstream.Ībout 1 mile upstream is a large water pipeline suspended high above the canyon that connects an irrigation canal from the north side of the river to the south and ties it into the Wild Bill Reservoir. Commercial whitewater rafting is popular on the Shoshone River in Cody but trips don’t paddle up stream of Colter’s Hell. This means nobody paddles anywhere upstream from where you’re at, and you won’t have to either to find the treasure. Joe Meek reportedly left Yellowstone Country and the fur trapping trade behind in the 1830s and moved to Oregon as trapping was no longer financially rewarding. In fact, the fumes which pervaded the air rendered it exceedingly noxious to every living thing, and the camp was fain to push on to the main stream of the Bighorn River” source. “If the mountains had proven barren, and inhospitably cold, this hot and sulphurous country offered no greater hospitality. His life story, recorded by Frances Fuller Victor in 1870 and available in whole here describes his visit to Colter’s Hell as brief and unpleasant. While John Colter is the first documented person to see Colter’s Hell in 1807-1808, the second person to document the site was a man named Joseph Meek in 1830. City hall – Brown’s (professional) home - would be above Colter’s Hell. Tia Brown – has been in office since 2009. Colter’s Hell lies right at the 5,000 ft elevation floor that Fenn has also provided and depending on the topo map you use the riverbed may lie below 5,000 ft.Īdditionally, the Mayor of Cody – Ms. To me this says you’re going to be well below the 15,000 foot ceiling that Fenn has mentioned elsewhere. ![]() brown bear) population around Yellowstone and which range near Cody typically hibernate in dens above 6,500 ft. The problem is that from the parking area on US-14 you have a steep descent into the canyon and though it may be possible to retrieve the 40+ pound treasure via this route it may be easier to access it from the other side of the river. From this parking area you would access the treasure by going down into the canyon. I believe this first stanza is exposition only.Ĭolter’s Hell is an area of nearly-extinct fumaroles and hot springs today but when observed by Colter between 1807-1808 was described as a "volcanic tract with its gloomy terrors, its hidden fires, smoking pits, noxious streams and the all-pervading smell of brimstone.” Warm waters halt is a reference to this location where between 18 the hot spring waters mostly disappeared.Ĭolter’s Hell is accessed primarily but not solely from a turnoff (map link) on US-14 west of downtown Cody. That said, it will help supremely if you read this Online Book especially chapter 4 which provide a lot of context to this theory.Īs I have gone alone in there And with my treasures bold, I can keep my secret where, And hint of riches new and old. There is a lot to cover and I hope to keep it short. I suspect but don’t have evidence yet that he is associated with the Friends of Park County History who raised funding for and helped the City of Cody open the Colter’s Hell Interpretative Trail in 2005 (read about the interesting history of this site and its relevance to the town of Cody here).īelow I will lay out the case for this location for your consideration. In my opinion this checks off almost every single possible clue in the poem “The Thrill of the Chase.” There is both a historical and geographic link to some of the clues, and even some of the more obscure terms from the poem ( meek, blaze, tarry ) are supported by direct geologic, historic or other evidence.Īdditionally, Forrest Fenn has ties to Cody, WY as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (link to 2009 annual report listing his seat) as well as a donor to the same organization (link to 2012 annual report listing Fenn and his wife as donating between $10,000 and $24,999 to the center that year). I believe the treasure is hidden in Colter's Hell (map link) near Cody, WY possibly near the base of an extinct geyser cone that was observed by John Colter in 1807-08 or possibly near 2 other proximal features.
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