It will eventually come out

[CRM114]

https://abcnews.go.com/US/mysterious...ry?id=71130859

Forrest Fenn isn’t ready to solve every mystery surrounding his infamous hidden treasure, which he says was finally found after more than a decade of intense searching. “I’m not talking about that,” he told ABC News when asked if he’s planning to reveal the treasure’s secret, now-former location. “But it will eventually come out.”

Coming out and being accepted are two different things, but it's fairly obvious he meant the secret is known by anyone who still cares. What did he know? How will it come out?

[Sal O'mander]

The solver told Forrest what they planned to do should they find it.... Unlike Jack, who admitted he hadn't thought about it.....

[Walking Among Lions]

The solver told Forrest what they planned to do should they find it.... Unlike Jack, who admitted he hadn't thought about it.....

Maybe the true finder, LS had a hard time keeping their mouth shut and blabbered to too many people and so Forrest created the Proxy finder to make it impossible for the true finder to reveal who they were without any way of believability short of producing the chest. This would free the LS/TF the ability to finally go and retrieve the chest in their own due time and not have to worry about coming forward. And, even if they did, everyone they told would not believe them in the first place, short of showing them the chest and thus would be perceived as a crazy man. It's the perfect alibi so that you are not the prime suspect.

Not only would this give the LS/TF incredible cover from scrutiny, investigators and troublemakers but would also cause such a commotion in the Fenn Community that the legacy would live on in a strange and bizarro world. The media will be dying to know who really found the chest. Where is it? Who owns it? How did they find it? When will answers be revealed?

[thehomeofBrown.com]

The context from that story is that Forrest seems to think his poem would have taken longer to solve. I think Forrest's prediction is simply that since one person figured it out, it demonstrated the poem can be solved with confidence and therefore it's likely someone else will as well. But you're right that portions of the community won't accept the correct solve.

[Leaf Blazeikson]

Maybe the true finder, LS had a hard time keeping their mouth shut and blabbered to too many people and so Forrest created the Proxy finder to make it impossible for the true finder to reveal who they were without any way of believability short of producing the chest. This would free the LS/TF the ability to finally go and retrieve the chest in their own due time and not have to worry about coming forward. And, even if they did, everyone they told would not believe them in the first place, short of showing them the chest and thus would be perceived as a crazy man. It's the perfect alibi so that you are not the prime suspect.

Not only would this give the LS/TF incredible cover from scrutiny, investigators and troublemakers but would also cause such a commotion in the Fenn Community that the legacy would live on in a strange and bizarro world. The media will be dying to know who really found the chest. Where is it? Who owns it? How did they find it? When will answers be revealed?

I'm not understanding how FF wanted to trick the LS but also wanted to protect him.

[Walking Among Lions]

I'm not understanding how FF wanted to trick the LS but also wanted to protect him.

Don't you think initially the LS thought for a moment that someone beat them to the treasure chest? What a shock that would have been but then begin to piece together all the breadcrumbs that Forrest left for the LS and begin to realize that the chest was part of a ruse to throw off the public and for Forrest to get some kicks so he could go out laughing.

[Sal O'mander]

Maybe the true finder, LS had a hard time keeping their mouth shut and blabbered to too many people and so Forrest created the Proxy finder to make it impossible for the true finder to reveal who they were without any way of believability short of producing the chest. This would free the LS/TF the ability to finally go and retrieve the chest in their own due time and not have to worry about coming forward. And, even if they did, everyone they told would not believe them in the first place, short of showing them the chest and thus would be perceived as a crazy man. It's the perfect alibi so that you are not the prime suspect.

Not only would this give the LS/TF incredible cover from scrutiny, investigators and troublemakers but would also cause such a commotion in the Fenn Community that the legacy would live on in a strange and bizarro world. The media will be dying to know who really found the chest. Where is it? Who owns it? How did they find it? When will answers be revealed?

Yes... Exactly...
I have considered this possibility myself....
Forrest was trying to save the solver from their own recklessness!

[Sal O'mander]

Don't you think initially the LS thought for a moment that someone beat them to the treasure chest? What a shock that would have been but then begin to piece together all the breadcrumbs that Forrest left for the LS and begin to realize that the chest was part of a ruse to throw off the public and for Forrest to get some kicks so he could go out laughing.

Once again.... Agreed!
i couldn't have said it better!

[Leaf Blazeikson]

Don't you think initially the LS thought for a moment that someone beat them to the treasure chest? What a shock that would have been but then begin to piece together all the breadcrumbs that Forrest left for the LS and begin to realize that the chest was part of a ruse to throw off the public and for Forrest to get some kicks so he could go out laughing.

I don't think FF had the ability to control that many choices, methods and conclusions in his last year. At least not in any way that'll turn out successful for his legacy- if he was indeed trying to trick someone. No, I don't think that'll go well for his name if that's the case. What I feel that people are doing is leaving inroads and reason in this in hopes of some second-retrieval ending- but I'm not feeling it. These types of things just fade away. We all know that. Things that feel like this try to fade off and hide.

[FennPoint]

Maybe the true finder, LS had a hard time keeping their mouth shut and blabbered to too many people and so Forrest created the Proxy finder to make it impossible for the true finder to reveal who they were without any way of believability short of producing the chest. This would free the LS/TF the ability to finally go and retrieve the chest in their own due time and not have to worry about coming forward. And, even if they did, everyone they told would not believe them in the first place, short of showing them the chest and thus would be perceived as a crazy man. It's the perfect alibi so that you are not the prime suspect.

?

Interesting concept, and one which can explain why the Chase ended in such an odd fashion.

Forrest always wrapped up his stories with a pleasant ending. Yet, in his biggest story ever - not so much. Odd.

FP

[Old Pilot]

The chest may still be out there, "unfound". And after it's actually found, folks won't believe it. They'll think that this is just another "Jack"-type false alarm, and will continue searching. So the story may continue for quite a long time hereafter, well after the finder sells the goodies and quietly benefits from solving and retrieving. Not too bad for a modest person. If not modest, there could be long-term frustration about not being believed/famous/etc. Hopefully, the finder will realize that fame comes with many problems/discomforts.

[NadiyaM]

Don't you think initially the LS thought for a moment that someone beat them to the treasure chest? What a shock that would have been but then begin to piece together all the breadcrumbs that Forrest left for the LS and begin to realize that the chest was part of a ruse to throw off the public and for Forrest to get some kicks so he could go out laughing.

then all is well and good in fantasy land....but ONLY if the forensics prove the "finders pics" and Jacks, Forrest and the treasure spread out all over the table are fake.....I actually doubt that will be the find....but if the chest and Jack/Forrest/table of treasure pics turn out to be somewhat altered but real.....then you have no chest to look for.....
Perhaps you have that covered and expect to find some sort of proxy though??..))

[FenndersKeepers]

Maybe the true finder, LS had a hard time keeping their mouth shut and blabbered to too many people and so Forrest created the Proxy finder to make it impossible for the true finder to reveal who they were without any way of believability short of producing the chest. This would free the LS/TF the ability to finally go and retrieve the chest in their own due time and not have to worry about coming forward. And, even if they did, everyone they told would not believe them in the first place, short of showing them the chest and thus would be perceived as a crazy man. It's the perfect alibi so that you are not the prime suspect.

Not only would this give the LS/TF incredible cover from scrutiny, investigators and troublemakers but would also cause such a commotion in the Fenn Community that the legacy would live on in a strange and bizarro world. The media will be dying to know who really found the chest. Where is it? Who owns it? How did they find it? When will answers be revealed?

I think this scenario makes A LOT of sense, especially with the announcement date of June 6th and the anniversary of D Day, which had to do with the largest military deception in history. Operation BODYGUARD and operation FORTITUDE!!!

If this scenario IS in fact true, it means Wyoming as the state is a definite red herring to throw everyone off and protect the LS.

[Zapster]

If you haven't already, read what happened with Masquerade and its golden hare almost 40 years ago. The parallels are, sadly, remarkable, which just shows that human nature is sometimes rather predictable.

[CRM114]

If you haven't already, read what happened with Masquerade and its golden hare almost 40 years ago. The parallels are, sadly, remarkable, which just shows that human nature is sometimes rather predictable.

I agree. The main unfortunate difference is the puzzle creator is gone and can't participate in the resolution.