Early on Justin said someone was within 2 miles of the treasure. Later he said someone was within 200 feet of the checkpoint. Trying to confirm if he has since clarified or provided updates to either location?

If these were both true at the same time, then this would confirm something from an earlier post about Justin saying you will have time to think about how to retrieve the treasure. Once you reach the check point you are going to possibly get back in your car and drive. Or hiking a couple miles, maybe backtracking a couple miles.

Justin says if you have learned the location of the treasure, you will have time to think about how to retrieve it.

A logical person could determine that this person in theory has reached the checkpoint and upon discovering the checkpoint determines the location of the treasure but, it's not where the checkpoint is located and maybe you need to get back in your car and drive to the treasure location. Does this make sense based on what Justin has said??

"I traveled further than necessary, just to throw off any scent of the trail."

I know! It's not a real national Park.....It's just an idea in my head and part of my logic for focusing on the heart of the Pioneer Mountains is because to me that is Justin's Yellowstone equivalent. Fenn wanted people to go to YNP that was absolutely part of his treasure hunt calculus. I think Justin in a similar way wants people to come see the Pioneer Mountains. All IMHO, opposing thoughts please!

Early on I believed the entire poem was a celestial map. I have since move away from that theory. However, I do think there's a strong case to me made for Polaris being the starting destination for your treasure quest.

Justin say's that area was "a legacy of wild places and wilder stories, each one as true as the north star and twice as bright."

Justin also said, "Our North Star was Heron Lake" So this can't be dismissed either, but I tend to think this is not the area because there's no real connection for his grandfather. IMHO

Justin's father is supposed to guide us with his wisdom and his father said, “Listen to that northern cardinal,”. He was talking about a bird or was he really saying follow the northern cardinal on your compass and look to the north?

Justin said the map in his book is a good "primer" to me that mean it tells you where to start.

All of this to me supports Polaris as a starting point. Are there better arguments out there for a different starting point?

After the music cypher and the clock cypher it became obvious, I am on over my head so it's time for plan B, didn't Justin say there's more than one way to solve the poem?

When the treasure is found, will this be another fisherman's treasure solve?

Fishing is very important to Justin. I can't imagine a fishing hole not being part of your journey to the treasure.

All within walking distance per JP. So, is this a fishing Hole/special fishing spot??

❌ No current populations

• Utah
• Nevada
• Arizona
• New Mexico

👉 These states lack the sustained deep snowpack wolverines need for denning

Is this tracking with most searchers on clue count?

1. As hope surges, clear and bright,

2. Walk near waters' silent flight.

3. Round the bend, past the Hole,

4. I wait for you to cast your pole.

5. In ursa east his realm awaits;

6. His bride stands guard at ancient gates.

7. Her foot of three and twenty degree,

8. Return her face to find the place.

9. Double arcs on granite where secrets of the past still hold,

10. Beyond the reach of time's swift race, wonder guard this sacred place.

Just a theory I thought might be discussion worthy.

I know Justin said no Forrest Fenn knowledge required but he talks a lot about Forrest Fenn in Netflix and in his book highlighting their kindred spirit and all the parallels in life they shared.

So, for me "The Fitzwaters" is Justin's version of Forrest Fenn's "Flywater". These two chapters share so much common ground, and Justin wouldn't want us to make this connection because it becomes very obvious that we are looking for a secret fishing spot that only Justin knows about and maybe the bronze Tucker is there waiting for him/you to cast your pole.

Now that the cypher is known are searchers rethinking the poem might be threaded to Tucker?

1. Tucker waits

2. Tuckers Realm

First actionable clue according to Justin....Walk. Is this the starting point?

Is anyone else thinking there's something to be learned about Justin from the clock cypher reveal?

First, I hope the poem is not as complex as the cypher or else I'm screwed. I was using the wrong clock cyphers. Ha!

So, I am taking this opportunity to reread BTME with new insight on how Justin makes puzzles.

And "BOOM!" right out of the gate I reread the dedication and now I interpret that as a clue or "nod" to his mother and her being "his" north star. So, for the Montana/Polaris crowd this could be encouraging confirmation or confirmation bias, Thoughts??

My theory of a general starting "Area"

Justin's dad represents wisdom in the treasure hunt. In the chapter Dad's House Page 7. He talks about a "Northern Cardinal" and connects that to a HDT quote about a "thrush alone declares the immortal wealth and vigor that is in the forest." Justin tells this story as it occurs during one of the rare times that he is awake so early in the morning. He also says, as an adult, he has continued this morning ritual with a "steaming" cup of coffee in one hand and bird seed in the other.

I interpret this passage as clues to the starting area: Cardinal heading of north, begin it in the morning, the treasure is in the forest, and waters silent flight is steam.

Actual clues or confirmation bias?? Please share your thoughts.