Everything But The Blaze -- Madison (Nine Mile Hole)

[Tim (ZosoRocks)]

Why invest 20+ years into the chase to only in the end bury the real solve? Is there more to the story or was it done just for expediency? 9MH appeased the chase romantics but was obviously a ruse.

I agree.

[shyorphan]

".....I didn't tell anyone the location." - f

If it is written in TTotC - he told everyone.

#Ignore9MH

Why invest 20+ years into the chase to only in the end bury the real solve? Is there more to the story or was it done just for expediency? 9MH appeased the chase romantics but was obviously a ruse.

[Tim (ZosoRocks)]

".....I didn't tell anyone the location." - f

If it is written in TTotC - he told everyone.

#Ignore9MH

[Imeverybodynow]

The end is ever drawing nigh; (The Madison approaches constantly on your left)
.
We're closing in on the end of the chase. After putting in, the water of the Madison River approaches constantly, on our left side. This limits the location of the final spot greatly, since this can only happen if we've put in before reaching Seven Mile Bridge.
.
After the bridge, the road runs along the south bank of the river. If we put in from the south bank, the river draws near on our right. Before the bridge, the road runs along the north bank of the river. If we put in from the north bank, the river draws nigh (on our left).
.

.
There'll be no paddle up your creek, (You'll have to fully cross the Madison River,)
.
After putting in, we can go upstream, downstream, or across to the other bank of the river. Upstream and downstream don't make sense. If we needed to go in one of those directions, it would have been easier to put in at a different location. Across is the wisest option.
.
Just heavy loads and water high. (Where large boulders sit in the water upstream.)
.
Stream loads are solids that are transported downstream by flowing water. They range from tiny particles suspended in the water, to sand, gravel, or cobble that rolls along the river bed. Heavy loads are rocks or boulders that sit on the river bed.
.
Between Madison Junction and Seven Mile Bridge, the most substantial boulders are found clustered together near a fishing hole called Nine Mile Hole. They sit directly on the river bed, partly submerged and partly protruding out of the water high.
.

.
Nine Mile Hole (around where the boulders are clustered) is the Home of Brown, below which we wade into and cross the Madison River. But which boulders, exactly? Does below mean immediately below the boulders, or some distance below them?
.
I'm not sure, so it's wise to cross the river immediately downstream of the boulders. If we find the next clue on the opposite bank, we'll know that we crossed at the precise location. If we don't find it, we can walk down the bank one small section at a time until we do.
.

.
If you've been wise and found the blaze, (If you crossed at the correct spot and found the blaze,)
.
A blaze is anything that stands out visually from its surroundings. The south bank of the Madison River at Nine Mile Hole is covered in lodgepole pines, some more mature than others. Those that are living reach up toward the sky, while the dead lay fallen on the ground beneath. It's the cycle of life; the old make way for the new. But, I digress.
.
What stands out visually in this environment? It's difficult for me to say, having never been there. I suspect if we put in to the Madison River at a precise location below Nine Mile Hole, then we can walk straight across to the blaze.
.
Look quickly down, your quest to cease, (Look down from the blaze to spot the treasure,)
.
continued on next post

and this leaves the biggest question for me? Why in the fuck are you referring to the Madison RIVER as your answer to “no paddle up your CREEK”. That shit makes zero sense, and I’m not sorry at all.

[trueyeti]

The physical evidence proving the chest was at Nine Mile Hole is well-summarized here: https://www.fennchest.com/

Hey of,
In Summary, you summary - well - the summary of the summary - of a well that is the summary - of an empty well summary - that is about the summary of the empty well summary. Summary you soon, to summary the empty well summary - too well - in summary your empty well summary. Cheers

[thehomeofBrown.com]

The physical evidence proving the chest was at Nine Mile Hole is well-summarized here: https://www.fennchest.com/

[trueyeti]

[QUOTE=Zapster;n465063]

Even if true (which I'm not addressing), you certainly don't need to get wet or put yourself in any danger crossing a river. Bridges remove those issues.

He couldn't (or at least shouldn't) have ruled out river crossings if one is an absolute necessity for success. But again: bridges. Consider the cover art of "Seventeen Dollars a Square Inch."

Hey Zap,
No biggie...but that quote is labelled under my name...something got crossed up in this thread and it seems to have started a couple of comments ago. It wasn't me...

Anyway....I add that a bridge over a river is not necessary if the river in question is seasonal. For example, a dry wash. Oh sure, when it rains it pours, and the wash now becomes a river....but after it carries the "heavy loads" from "water high," then it becomes a shadow of its former self....a dry wash...once again. Cheers.

[Zapster]

[QUOTE=Blazingwaddles;n463953]

BINGO!!!! WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER. He in fact did NOT say that despite more than one searcher perishing in a river. He said not the Rio Grande because that is the desert not mountains. This is 100% FACT that you indeed need to cross a river.

Even if true (which I'm not addressing), you certainly don't need to get wet or put yourself in any danger crossing a river. Bridges remove those issues.

If you didn't have to, FF would have been an absolute reckless asshole not to rule out a river crossing.

He couldn't (or at least shouldn't) have ruled out river crossings if one is an absolute necessity for success. But again: bridges. Consider the cover art of "Seventeen Dollars a Square Inch."

[trueyeti]

Hey yeti, there was no specific tie-in to Olga in my solve. As for brown trout appearing in many places besides 9MH, you are correct. However, I wasn't concerned with all the other places, because the preceding clues in the poem had already narrowed my focus to Madison Canyon. I felt that 9MH was the most significant fishing hole in the canyon, and also the best fit to the subsequent poem clues.

Hey V,
Yes yes yes. I understand what you mean and I appreciate the effort you have put forth to show viability for Wyoming. Valiant IMO. But what does Wyoming say of Richard Wetherill, Byron Harvey, the Navajo Silversmith and the turquoise bracelet? Where is Brown tied into Milay's "palace in the sand" that Forrest used to describe the place where he felt the most comfortable?

Where is the frog, the cats, the dragon, the "riches," the cow "Bessie," the W/M's, the "word that is key," the pies, the tail (tale), the blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....... So many things? Does the "quest to cease" lay in the "east?" Does the word "trove" go with "grove?" And what about the "shadow of the river" or the "shadow on the river?"

Despite "Wyoming" the "winning solve" must answer the above items/questions. I laude your efforts but remind you about AC Doyle's quote, “When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.” Cheers.

[Vertigo]

Hey V,
I think that he did try...maybe its too late. Anyway...does Olga go with your German Brown somehow? Cheers.

Hey yeti, there was no specific tie-in to Olga in my solve. As for brown trout appearing in many places besides 9MH, you are correct. However, I wasn't concerned with all the other places, because the preceding clues in the poem had already narrowed my focus to Madison Canyon. I felt that 9MH was the most significant fishing hole in the canyon, and also the best fit to the subsequent poem clues.

[trueyeti]

Blazingwaddles your post above gives the impression that you quoted me, when in fact you were quoting trueyeti. Can you fix that please? Thank you.

Hey V,
I think that he did try...maybe its too late. Anyway...does Olga go with your German Brown somehow? Cheers.

[Vertigo]

BINGO!!!! WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER. He in fact did NOT say that despite more than one searcher perishing in a river. He said not the Rio Grande because that is the desert not mountains. This is 100% FACT that you indeed need to cross a river. If you didn't have to, FF would have been an absolute reckless asshole not to rule out a river crossing. So yes you had to cross a river. 200%. I'm sorry if you can't see that, it means you are beyond help.

Blazingwaddles your post above gives the impression that you quoted me, when in fact you were quoting trueyeti. Can you fix that please? Thank you.

[trueyeti]

Hey BW,
I wish the quote was up here...a river, a wash, an arroyo, and a creek. The cover of his book with the shadow on the water....What is the "shadow of the water?" Cheers.

[Blazingwaddles]

[QUOTE=trueyeti;n462557]

If Forrest had answered that "Brown" is a trout, then you would possibly be onto something, but everywhere that Brown trout appear would now be on the table, not just 9MH. Didn't Forrest issue new guidance after the deaths of our fellow searchers? Didn't he say something like no river?

BINGO!!!! WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER. He in fact did NOT say that despite more than one searcher perishing in a river. He said not the Rio Grande because that is the desert not mountains. This is 100% FACT that you indeed need to cross a river. If you didn't have to, FF would have been an absolute reckless asshole not to rule out a river crossing. So yes you had to cross a river. 200%. I'm sorry if you can't see that, it means you are beyond help.

[trueyeti]

[QUOTE=Vertigo;n281620]Not far, but too far to walk. (Driving will be most practical.)
.
Put in below the home of Brown. (Wade into the Madison River below an epic fishing hole.)
.
Imagine if "Brown" was not capitalized. In that case, "Put in below the home of brown" could mean, "Put in below the brown colored home." Clearly, Forrest did not want to steer us that way. Brown was capitalized to preclude that interpretation.
.
Brown must be the name of something in nature. It could pertain to geology, hydrology, flora, or fauna. Between Madison Junction and the West Entrance to Yellowstone, there aren't any obvious features named Brown for each of the first three categories.
.
However, the area is renowned as the habitat for an aptly named animal species: brown trout. The species is known simply as "brown" in the vernacular of bona-fide anglers. Forrest was an avid angler, to put it mildly, so it's natural for him to use this casual parlance.
.
The home of Brown must be a storied fishing hole somewhere on this stretch of the Madison River. If we can locate it precisely with the help of subsequent clues, we'll know where to put in, or wade into, the Madison River.
.

Hey V,
You wrote:
"Imagine if "Brown" was not capitalized. In that case, "Put in below the home of brown" could mean, "Put in below the brown colored home." Clearly, Forrest did not want to steer us that way. Brown was capitalized to preclude that interpretation."
I write:
Imagine that "Brown" is capitalized. In that case, your logic precludes you being steered away from a brown trout.

You wrote:
"Brown must be the name of something in nature. It could pertain to geology, hydrology, flora, or fauna. Between Madison Junction and the West Entrance to Yellowstone, there aren't any obvious features named Brown for each of the first three categories."
I write:
"Must and could," would and should...corroborate your first assumption that "Brown" is a trout (brown).

You wrote:
"However, the area is renowned as the habitat for an aptly named animal species: brown trout. The species is known simply as "brown" in the vernacular of bona-fide anglers. Forrest was an avid angler, to put it mildly, so it's natural for him to use this casual parlance."
I write:
A casual parlance to brown (trout), from "Brown," is no casual parlance because the capitalized "B" makes "Brown" exempt from a casual parlance. It is "proper," and like a "contract." The capitalization makes principal.....the function and meaning indented by the capital "B" in the word "Brown." A small "b's" intention changes the principal and the function and the meaning into something else entirely.....meaning that if ignored by rationalizations.....defeats the principal intention of the capitalization of the word choice of "Brown." Why not a color then......instead of a fish? Don't you think that it is fishy to employ a casual parlance of such an important aspect of the poem?

Remember what Forrest answered to Joan Lunden when she asked him about Brown....he said, "If I told you that, it would lead you straight to the treasure chest."

If Forrest had answered that "Brown" is a trout, then you would possibly be onto something, but everywhere that Brown trout appear would now be on the table, not just 9MH. Didn't Forrest issue new guidance after the deaths of our fellow searchers? Didn't he say something like no river?

You wrote:
"The home of Brown must be a storied fishing hole somewhere on this stretch of the Madison River. If we can locate it precisely with the help of subsequent clues, we'll know where to put in, or wade into, the Madison River."
I write:
You wrote the words, "Imagine, must and could" in this section. Now you're saying "If we can locate the home of Brown," through using the parlance of "brown" from "Brown," which is mightily on shaky ground, as already mentioned above.

PS. If the answer to a question asked, say for example, "What color is your home?" is the color "brown," then the answer would be given as a single word "Brown." In the poem, it is written....not as an answer to a question as a single word, rather it is an important sentence that makes "Brown" the noun where the "Put in below" is a verb. It is a sentence of instruction. Brown, IMO is the most important....and the first clue.

Brown; if a "brown trout" lives in the water, then the instruction portion of the sentence indicates that the searcher is to go underwater, as in...... "put in below" the home of a fish. Hey, it is as likely an interpretation.....the home of brown is the water....therefor the chest....or whatever..... is under the water. Don't you think that if your interpretation of "Brown" is brown trout.....then he would have written, "Put in below the home of browns?"

Hey, how many fish did you catch today? The answer, "eight." What kind of trout are they? The answer, "Browns."
Isn't the common name for "browns," "German brown trout?" Can you "Imagine, must, and could" anything with the "German" part of your parlance? If you can, then perhaps we should tag you "Sir, Parlance Alot".....or.....not.

Cheers.