Time goes so quickly and I find myself studying up for the next big adventure – Spring is just around the corner! My biggest problem is picking out the next place to look for the elusive treasure. So in keeping with the spirit of the blog, I thought I would write down some of my ideas on where to go and share them with you here.
First, let’s start with the old ideas. Lamar Valley in Yellowstone is home to bears, browns and the Lamar Canyon. High water and heavy loads just down from the Lamar Ranger Station which was once home to famous Park Ranger Brown. Depending on the direction you take to get there you may pass Soda Butte, a place where waters halted. This valley, along with many buffalo, was also the roaming area of the now deceased wolf named Blaze.
It was in this valley where I discovered the “immaculate impression” inside a cottonwood tree which I once believe held the treasure. Anyone interested in this area might care to check out the first podcast or some of my first blogs to get familiar with that tale.
The next searches were in and around Gardiner, Montana; a small town just outside the Roosevelt Arch at the north gate of Yellowstone. This is where President Roosevelt gave a rousing speech in 1903. Notice the inscription on the top. Keep that in mind when anyone gives you a bad time for looking around for the treasure.
“For the benefit and enjoyment of the people”
I spent several seasons looking around these parts. Jardine, just up the hill from Gardiner, is near Joe Brown’s gold claim that made this area famous for a time. This town still has people living there and is a beautiful place to visit. The mining areas are closed to the public and after several searchers had checked out Joe’s claim they made it difficult if not impossible to get near it now without permission. They won’t give you permission as they are not wanting the liability. Pictured below is Bear Creek where Joe Brown discovered gold.
Going north of Gardiner is Yankee Jim’s Canyon. I spent more time there than any other site. There are still areas of interest there and I can’t say I could rule this area out of the Chase. The nearby Devils Slide, red in color for the iron in the soil reminds me of Forrest’s story about his Spanish class. Joe Brown put in is just below the slip and slide and at the mouth of the canyon. If you want a chance to look that is easily accessible this is it. This place has all the clues but I just couldn’t find anything except some geocaches. Again there are many references to this area in prior blogs. Lots of activity here and at least ten different places to look. Don’t forget to say hi at the Iron Horse in downtown Gardiner and have an elk burger. That is one of my favorite places in the whole Yellowstone area!
Back to the Lamar area again…as new ideas came to me and put me on nearby creeks to not paddle up. This time I traced the clues to Pebble Creek off highway 212. Four trips and nine bear sightings later I can still say it would be worth another look. Here it is down from warm waters halting and in a canyon plus home to Brown, bears that is. Across the road from there is another place of interest, Ice Box Canyon. Be very, very careful and don’t go in spring, winter or fall. It is cold, water very high, and very slippery. I will tell everyone that this is not a good idea and I don’t think Forrest would go there twice. That said the Think Tank went down it just the same.
Another place not to go but seems to have potential is Death Gulch. Our upcoming podcast will be describing our trip to this exotic place so tune in next week if you would like to hear more.
- This is only the beginning. Later Ice Box is so narrow, that the winter’s ice stays safe from summer’s sun.
Now the new ideas!
Here I will give you just a tease as I will be here soon myself. So here is a list of a few places I will be exploring and sharing on the blog.
I find myself far behind the search in one of these spots so I would refer you to Dal’s blog if you can figure out which. I suggest exploring the Wind River Canyon, Wood River Canyon, and much of Hot Springs County Wyoming. We are also looking below Yellowstone around the Tetons. If this is making think that we
We are also looking below Yellowstone around the Tetons. If this is making you think that we aren’t locked into one strong solve, you’re right. For now, nothing lines up as well as it did in Yankee Jim’s Canyon or Wahb Springs but my gut says go to Cody and follow my nose. Drop a comment on us and we will read it on the Capt.Pappy podcast.
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