‘No paddle up your creek’ is an interesting line, as there are just so many possible interpretations.
As such, this is another clue that’s not very helpful in finding the treasure (it doesn’t give you any new information), but is very helpful in confirming a location (it could rule a lot of places out).
And, why is it ‘your creek’? The use of the possessive implies that it’s a named creek, perhaps named after a person. Better yet if there’s a nearby creek named Searcher Creek or Hunter Creek. There’s a Hunter Creek in Wyoming, right beside Sheepeater Creek (no place for the meek). Near Boulder Ridge (heavy load) and Castle Cr.
Which creek? And, why don’t we get a paddle?...
Considering the previous line, ‘the end is ever drawing nigh’, we could very easily be looking for a creek that’s on our left-hand side. A creek which we can’t go up (no paddle), or even a dry (dead) creek bed. Something which we would need ‘no paddle’ for.
Also, we shouldn’t rule out the possibility that this clue simply means that we don’t take the creek on our left (or the first creek we come across).
There will be ‘no paddle up your creek’ = ‘don’t go up that creek’
Or, alternately, we do go up that creek. The line is pretty ambiguous that way. Uggh.
Some time in the middle of 2010, wealthy author/collector/archaeologist Forrest Fenn hid a medieval chest filled with gold coins and other valuable artefacts somewhere in the Rocky Mountains for anyone to go and retrieve. He wrote a book called ‘The Thrill of the Chase’, in which he hid clues to help people find the treasure.
Inside the book is a poem which secretly encodes the whereabouts of this treasure chest. If you can solve the puzzle, you can go and collect hundreds of thousands of dollars (if not well over a million) right now!
But, hold your horses! It’s not that easy. Thousands upon thousands of people have tried - with absolutely no luck whatsoever!
Fortunately for you, we’re here to help guide you right to Fenn’s gold!
- Tom Miner Creek, Montana
- Steamboat Creek (no paddle)
- Wheeler Creek (no paddle) - right by Owl Peak (wise)
- Joe Brown Creek
- Dry creek bed
- Former creek
- A road named ‘____ Creek Rd.’
- Waterfall or cascade
- Rapids or whitewater
- The ‘creek’ is above you, like a bridge, mountain or ridge.
- We don’t take the trail to ____ Creek.
- High Creek
- Upper Creek
- Upper Fork of ____ Creek
- Paddleless Creek
- Shit Creek
- Up shit creek without a paddle
- Some combination of death/left/no-paddle/creek.
- We don’t go along the creek, but instead towards the heavy loads and water high.
- Two possible directions: one with ‘no paddle’ and ‘creek’ - the other with ‘heavy loads’ and ‘water high’. We proceed towards the heavy loads.
- ‘There’ could be important.
- ‘Will’ could be important (which would explain why it’s hidden behind an apostrophe).
Possible Interpretations:
- Yore Creek, Yore #23 Mine
- Paddle Creek
- [Word meaning paddle-less] Creek
- We aren’t taking a boat, we are swimming from this point on
- Walk up this creek
- Fitzcarraldo (no paddlewheeler up a his creek)
- ‘There’ll be’ = there will be = this is going to be happening in the future, ‘heavy loads’ may come before you go up the creek or instead of.
- Up = north
- Up = elevation
- No paddle ---> y’oar
- Oar Creek
Other Ideas...:
Important to solving the poem.
Unfortunately, that doesn’t mean that it’ll be helpful to you in any way whatsoever - until after the treasure has been found.
It will help to rule-out ideas though. So, it is of some value to us as we search for the treasure chest.
SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT.
The Verdict:
NO PADDLE UP YOUR CREEK
The Forrest Fenn Treasure
IMPORTANT READING
| The Poem |
| Hints & Clues |
| Need Maps |
| Links & More |
| Where to Begin |