u/AssociationHuge7318

I have a theory that revolves around the Y hike being the part about the galleons and then everything else is a part of the slide canyon hike, which starts at the top of the Y. I know the Y hike is private property owned by BYU, but the slide canyon trail is not private property and I think that it would possibly be hidden there. Would they go through private property that is being allowed to be used publicly to get to slide canyon? Or is that considered hiding the treasure along private property?

Granted, it’s week 1 I get it. But the hints felt so obvious. the treasure hunt boundaries are the same as they are every year, no surprise. The hike being more difficult than last year was no surprise to me either based on line 2. And the third hint (the most specific one) about the trail literally being difficult instead of hard (made of rock or pavement) was kind of a no duh for me. Was hoping for something that would help me crack the more difficult lines. But oh well, the search continues!!

I came up with what seemed like a near flawless solve at the butterfield peaks trailhead but then saw the trail is closed from October 31st to May 31st. So, there’s no way they would have been able to hide it there until yesterday, which they came up with the poem 3 weeks ago at least, indicating it’s probably been hidden that long too. I was really hoping I got it this time 🤪

If it's treasure you seek, heres some friendly advice
Begin your quest early, when the mornings are nice
Seems to be referring to the morning being the best time to orient yourself based on the two lines afterwards, also might mean it’s a longer hike.
Glance to the west, use distant peaks as your guide
They should look like the Rock with the moon on its side
Up to this point I think this is where you stand at the trailhead
Walk through the dust that stands as a shield
Yet when the storm blows, it refuses to yield
Walking through the entrance of the trail. It appears to be referring to crossing through a wash or a dry river bed, or a place where dirt tends to turn solid a lot
Visit the stranger who once knelt to stone
Cryptic, still trying to figure this one out. Thought it was a statue at first but it could refer to something else. The whole knelt to stone thing is weirdly worded.
And climb where the wind is never alone
If the phoenix's order is one you've joined
Follow the galleons that Hermione coined
Referring to a system of trail markers or something
Wind through the trees where the trail is hard
Could be a point where you get off the trail or a point where you see more trees as the trail gets steeper. Also a point where the trail gets harder
Until you meet the dragon and the fortune he guards
Could be referring to a cave or a formation, or a point of no return
Now, close to the prize, you can rest your shoulders
Resting shoulders could mean bending down into a cave like formation, or a part of the hike that gets easier
And find the wooden chest amongst the boulders

The poem is longer this year than last year, so we get more cryptic lines to decode, yay! I’ve used AI to help me figure out what almost all the lines could mean but so far nothing is for sure. Based on the poem and what it could mean, I’m trying rock canyon first. I have zero expectations it’s the right one but there’s enough leads for me to try it out.