This is Love

The Treasure Hunt

Feb 4, 2026
Justin Posey, treasure hunter and author of Beyond the Map’s Edge, recounts years chasing Forrest Fenn’s hidden cache. He talks about the rise of the hunt, ambiguous clues and internet communities. He describes search techniques, obsession’s consequences, the find’s aftermath and the legal fallout. He also explains creating his own treasure hunt as a tribute to the chase.
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ANECDOTE

The Hunt Begins With A Poem

  • Forrest Fenn hid a bronze chest with over a million dollars of treasure and published a nine-line poem as clues.
  • Justin Posey became obsessed after reading about it and spent years searching based on those clues.
INSIGHT

Chase Over Collection

  • Forrest created the hunt partly as a way to pass on the thrill of the chase after his near-death experience.
  • He designed the adventure to keep people exploring rather than simply receiving a prize.
ANECDOTE

A Chance Bookstore Encounter

  • Justin met Forrest in the Santa Fe bookstore and introduced himself nervously.
  • Forrest told Justin, “you're just the kind of guy that could find it,” encouraging him to search.
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