u/BtmeTreasureHunter

Justin said solve the poem in its entirety, and you will be retrieving not searching for the treasure. I used to think you could solve the poem without many external clues, but now I am doubting that. I think you need them to help explain its structure.

Let's start with what he said about solving the poem, and then add the external clues he has given us for sure.

Justin was asked about different ways to approach the poem. He said "There is a super brute-force way - but that would be very, very difficult." I interpreted it as a searcher iterating through the poem at every possible starting location to find the treasure. Statistically this is almost impossible, but eventually they would solve it when they used the correct location. Or would they?

He later said:

"Something will need to be manipulated to see the treasure".

The treasure is buried/covered. The searcher would solve the poem, get to the double arc, and find the treasure is not there out in the open. We could all assume the searcher would search/dig around, but does the poem let them know that for sure? "Wisdom waits in shadowed sight". Did he name the treasure "Wisdom", and "in shadowed sight" tells you that it is buried/covered? Maybe.

Now let's add the tech clue: "The key to one direction lies in another".

There have been many theories discussed what this means, but I think we all can agree one part of the poem is to be used in conjunction with another. The poem doesn't convey this. You wouldn't know this without Justin giving us this clue. Justin also said the tech clue is not a "core part of the poem", but if you have to combine two parts of the poem to get the correct direction how could it not be?

Now let's add:

Q: "Is there a significant clue visible if the treasure seeker is standing 15 feet away from where the treasure container is buried or hidden?"

A: Tricky wording again. Boy...the most accurate answer is...no"

He paused here. He could be playing semantics with the words "significant clue". I would argue "any clue" from the poem is a "significant clue" if it let's you know where the container is.

Let's take what he said at face value. The searcher solved the poem, and got to the double arcs. They know the treasure is buried, and search around to find nothing. Is there anything in the poem that would suggest the treasure is not at the double arcs, but some distance away? The poem doesn't convey this either. You wouldn't know this without Justin giving us this clue as well.

All this to say, you will need more external clues to solve the poem than just to find the correct starting location. Even when you do solve the poem to get to the double arcs you are still searching not retrieving in my opinion.

There is also a difference between external clues that give hints to the clues in the poem versus clues that aren't in the poem at all. Now you are searching the book and G&G for clues that you might not know their meaning unless you are standing at the double arcs. When everything is a clue nothing is a clue.

I think it was Matt who told Justin to make it as hard as you can because you can always make it easier later. This poem is obviously harder than Fenn's, and that took 10 years. We also assume Fenn's final clue stated where the treasure was. We know Justin's does not. Guess we'll see which one lasts longer.

One of my favorite movies is Field of Dreams. This is what it would be like if it waa about treasure hunting.

Your first solve:

Ray: "I have just created something totally illogical."

Annie: "That's what I like about it."

Your family after saying "Just one more time":

Annie: "I'm sorry, pal, but I have to nip this one in the bud. We are having moderate to heavy financial difficulties here."

Ray: "...we are dealing with primal forces of nature here. When the primal forces of nature tell you to do something, the prudent thing is to not quibble over details."

When passion becomes obsession:

Mann: "I wish I had your passion Ray. However misdirected it may be, it's still a passion."

When you finally do solve the poem:

Ray: "There comes a time when all the cosmic tumblers have clicked into place, and the universe opens itself up for a few seconds to show you what's possible."

On your way to pick up the treasure:

Go the distance.

Whether I find the treasure today or not this will be my last BOTG. I know this isn't an airport, and you don't have to announce your departure, but I just wanted to say thanks for this. It was a nice escape from daily life. My childlike wonder ran rampant every time I'd think about BTME.  Every time I go to bed the night before I leave I can't sleep. Not because I am excited that I will find it, but because I wonder if I am wrong. Am I wasting my time? Did I miss something? Will someone else find it first? Am I worthy (only the pertinent man will pass)? I will miss that wonder and excitement. Every day was something new.

All good things have to come to an end. I never thought I'd get to call myself a treasure hunter. It's definitely a badge of honor. Good luck to all of you, and thanks for the experience.

BtmeTreasureHunter

Q: Is there a significant clue visible if the treasure seeker is standing 15 feet away from where the treasure container is buried or hidden?

A: Tricky wording again. Boy...The most accurate answer is...no.

If I'm standig at the double arcs and the container is "buried/covered", and you are retrieving and not searching wouldn't that mean there would be something marking where the container is? Otherwise you would still be searching.

Maybe it's the word "significant" in the question Justin objected to? I would argue the last clue marking the container location would be significant. Maybe he don't think so?

Or maybe it is behind the double arcs so you wouldn't see the double arcs once the container location was in view? But it would still need to be marked.

Maybe standing at the double arcs you can see the last clue marking the container location, but it's over 15 feet away so the question is flawed? But that doesn't make sense because you'd see the same marker once you walked to it.

Maybe you are facing away from the double arcs when you are looking at the treasure? Hence not seeing the last clue? But you'd still need a marker where the container is.

If the window drawing is the marker maybe because it isn't in the poem so he wouldn't consider it a "significant clue"? So, again, the question is flawed?

I think there is more to figure out or his "retrieving" does still require some searching.

Anyone else have any ideas?

Whether or not people have legitimate claims about the cipher it's spilled milk to me. I just want to know are you guys going to call bullshit on the finder? If me or the 6 clue person find it are we going to be drug through the Mud?

I'm not on any team, haven't been on any Discord, or even watched any of those people on YouTube except for Justin's interviews, never met Justin, talked with him, had private communications, or even went to SS. Now of course I can't prove that so how can you believe me? If I find it I'm going to remain anonymous. Are you going to dox me?

How is one going to "prove" themselves if they find it? Just want to know how high the bar is set before I continue this thing. Not looking forward to lawsuits.

Edited to add: never met Justin, talked with him, had private communications, or even went to SS.