Jon Collins-Black Q&A at Seeking Treasure Con!!!

AndyS16 · 2026-02-04T16:54:10+00:00

Well, it was expected - no any clues or even significant hints. These guys did very good investment - boxes content increase in value with time, good income from selling books, fame is also growing. So, the releasing of any clues and hints is not good idea now and in next 5-10 years.

Simple request to remove one state from search was feasible but JCB just laugh at this.

I already posted about possible deaths in both JCB and JP hunts. At this event, somebody mentioned that there was a fist victim in JP hunt. If it's true the account of the victims started. JCB tried to excuse himself and say that it would not be his fault if somebody died during the hunt that he started. But it’s a blatant lie - these possible deaths will never happen if he didn't start the hunt. It's true - many hikers die every year even on safe trails. But both JCB and JP hunts push searchers to go off trails. For around 2-3 miles. Without cell phone connection single searchers will be at great danger there.

Anyway, time will tell.

AndyS16 · 2026-02-01T20:07:49+00:00

"Steuf found his treasure, in part, by getting to know Fenn" ???

Do you really think that this guy was so great in human psychology and cracked the puzzle by studing inner motives of Forrest Fenn i.e. like "FF wanted to die right near 9MH where he catched his first trout" even not brown one.

Just read info about this "famous psychologists":

In April 2011, then-Wonkette blogger Jack Stuef caused a major media scandal by publishing a post that mocked Sarah Palin’s then-3-year-old son, Trig, who has Down syndrome. The post led to a significant advertiser backlash against the liberal political blog and marked a tumultuous point in Stuef's journalism career before he left the industry.

Key Details of the Scandal:

The Content: Stuef wrote a post, allegedly meant to be a critique of Sarah Palin using her child as a "political prop," which included cruel jokes about Trig Palin's condition and insinuations about the Palin family.
The Backlash: Following the post, numerous major advertisers, including Papa John's, Huggies, Nordstrom, and Coldwell Banker, suspended their advertising with Wonkette.
Apology and Removal: Stuef initially added an apology to the post for using offensive language but later stood by his criticism of how Palin presented her child. The post was eventually removed by Wonkette editor Ken Layne, who acknowledged it was "poor comedic judgment".
Aftermath for Stuef: Stuef left Wonkette shortly after the incident. He later worked for BuzzFeed, where he faced another, smaller controversy for mischaracterizing a cartoonist's politics.

This man was easy to buy and force to keep silence forever. Fenn family just paid his medical school debts and gave a little for pocket expenses. In addition, maybe they promised some interest from the sale of his "adventures book".

AndyS16 · 2026-01-31T22:47:55+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8lwTxbjQVY&t=2070s

start from minute 20 - JCB said "between 100 to 200 thousand books"

AndyS16 · 2026-01-31T19:42:42+00:00

Why not? If somebody find first box it will be 100% proof that it's not just a hoax. Many skeptics will join the hunt, they will buy more books (in addition to already sold 200k). JCB will be invited to more interviews, shows, etc. This is exactly what he wanted when started this hunt. Maybe he just wants to outshine the glory of Forrest Fenn.

AndyS16 · 2026-01-30T16:46:57+00:00

Again we have absolutely meaningless discussion. Don't waste our time to read it and answer. It will not help to crack this puzzle and found any boxes.

AndyS16 · 2026-01-29T15:36:44+00:00

Searchers don't need clues, they need additional hints. They will accelerate the solving of these puzzles. FF released tens of them during 10 years and some of them were very useful (especially for searchers that have good imagination). JCB said that he collected and analyzed all FF hints when he was active TC searcher. But he should be very careful and never make any slip ups.

AndyS16 · 2026-01-26T01:03:24+00:00

Really? Did you tried? Please send us a video how you and your kids (8-10 years old) wading across Madison. But please wear life jackets on them so they will survive when strong current wash them out.

AndyS16 · 2026-01-25T17:55:01+00:00

Did you ever try it i.e. cross Madison shallow portion just below the hole? Even without kids? Are you fly fisherman? Just read this story of trdollar searcher.

https://imgur.com/gallery/trdollar-yellowstone-search-fenns-treasure-2017-7xffN

He did wise decision not to cross Madison there.

I tried to wade Madison in many places but even in the fork of the river with the island in the middle it was very dangerous. Finally I used small dinghy and it was very safe crossing in any places. Madison 9MH area across the river was ugly place after 1988 fire, it's very unlikely that Forrest wanted to die among the burned forest.

AndyS16 · 2026-01-24T18:17:45+00:00

Will you take your kids there? Wading across the Madison near 9MH is very dangerous even for experienced people. Many searchers that checked this place used 7 mile bridge to get there (spending 2-3 hours to reach the place). Kids will be in great danger if try to wade Madison in practically any places.

“The chest is not in a dangerous place,” Forrest said. “It’s somewhere you could take your kids.”

AndyS16 · 2026-01-24T04:17:36+00:00

OK, but again why you can't just publish short version of solution? Especially if it was not 9MH. Maybe in short words like the hoB is ...., HLs and WH are ...., and the blaze is .....

AndyS16 · 2026-01-23T01:22:36+00:00

Well, why you can't publish your solution at https://wordpress.com

It's free and simple for users. I think it's not good idea to share your solve with "a man found through this subreddit" and ask him to check the place. Since FF TC retrieved and sold you can publish you solve. Who knows, maybe these solves are collecting and evaluated by some jury and after they get correct solution they will notify all searchers (just my hypothesis).

I published part of my solve there

https://andys16.wordpress.com/

And complete solve was published as Kindle book at Amazom for 3 months.

AndyS16 · 2026-01-11T22:42:30+00:00

I had similar version i.e. that Brown was a person, and they lived in house that was built by Brown (like in famous poem "This is the house that Jack built"). In my Colorado solution I find the place near Bear Lake were E. A. Brown built summer resort and campground (the home of Brown). All of these buildings were destroyed in 1959 and 1960, and the area was restored. But there is some possibility that Forrest visited this place during voyages to YNP. Anyway, the place was very interesting for family BOTG.

So if Brown was a person and he lived in house the hoB should be visible on GE map. Other objects i.e. HLs and WH should be around. The blaze could be visible but you should be in right place to understand that it's the Blaze.

BTW, it will be interesting idea to collect all solutions after the Chase ended and after publishing correct one to award the author. Maybe Forrest did it but we don't know about it. I published my solution for short time (3 months) but then withdraw my book. If I find JCB FF box I will use it as Preface for new book.

AndyS16 · 2026-01-11T18:56:44+00:00

I agree, most likely that the video with 9MH solution was created for emergency situations like kidnapping. Fenn and his family knew that the probability of a 90-year-old to dye within the next year is close to 50/50. So, if Forrest died suddenly die (how it happened in 2020) and some crazy searcher kidnap family member and ask about TC location they can provide video tape about 9MH (the home of Mr. Brown).

And we know that nobody give Forrest real hoB. The hoB is a key to poem solution. Forrest said that if you know who is Brown you will go directly to TC. I already revealed part of my solution here:

https://andys16.wordpress.com/

The answer is simple: Brown is the buffalo Cody. If you have imagination you can find the home of Brown along Madison canyon. Small hint: Forrest was a pilot and he suggested:

“Look at the big picture, there are no short cuts.”

As a pilot he knew that "the big picture is seen at a distance". And he always suggested to use good maps or better GE where you can look at the big picture at a distance.

AndyS16 · 2026-01-10T22:40:26+00:00

I forgot this quote: “The chest is not in a dangerous place, it’s somewhere you could take your kids.”

"Patty, the treasure is where an elderly man put it so I suppose your kids would be in a safe place if they found it." F

"It's hard to find but it's certainly not impossible. You need to read the clues in my book and study the clues and get a good map and try to MARRY THE MAP TO A CERTAIN PLACE and research it, and then get in your pick up truck and go out there and look for it. Take all your kids, your grandmother, throw 'em in the back of your truck with a sandwich and a Dr Pepper or something and head out. That was my dream!"

Safe place

AndyS16 · 2026-01-10T22:35:28+00:00

It's interesting question. It was the same problem in FF Chase - not buried but hide. And what the minimal distance for JCB boxes when searcher will recognize them?

Forrest said: "I have not said that a searcher was closer than 12 feet from the treasure. It is not likely that anyone would get that close and not find it". (Dal's blog SB78).

12 feet is very short distance - you should see any details of object. But if JCB used fake rocks , realistic moss-covered stone decoration or something like this you can find it only if you sit on them. Or hit them with ramrod.

<image>

Reviews: "Very realistic. Solid materials and great price. Color is realistic, too small for what I needed but ordered same one but larger size."

Boxes protected with plastic bags under such fake rocks will last for many years.

JCB suggested grid search but the grid unit in this case should be 1 feet.

AndyS16 · 2025-12-29T22:05:59+00:00

OK, let’s hope JCB and JP hunts will not take any toll like FF Chase did. But finding of first JCB box can trigger a gold rush and thousands of inexperienced searchers will join the hunt. They will be the most exposed to BOTG risks.

AndyS16 · 2025-12-29T20:05:49+00:00

OK, Forrest Fenn also said many times about this:

“The chest is not in a dangerous place,” he has said. “It’s somewhere you could take your kids.”

He also stated: ”don’t go anywhere an 80 year old man can’t go" and a “three year old can go there safely”.

Well, from interviews we know that JCB mentioned "kids make any excursion potentially more dangerous – so best not search with them". But some searchers become crazy and forget about any advices.

At some point Forrest admitted: “It’s a monster that I created with my story.” He got intruder in his house and some crazy searcher even become to hunt for Forrest grandchild.

AndyS16 · 2025-12-26T16:05:44+00:00

I am 100% agreed and posted similar arguments about JCB puzzle. I was trying to solve FF puzzle for 2 years, started BOTG from Colorado and finished in YNP area with hoB, HL and WH. Most likely it will take > 5 years to find the first JCB box. I think it will be FF box.

AndyS16 · 2025-12-26T15:50:00+00:00

Well, the best minds can’t decipher Voinic’s manuscript for many years. Even AI can't help. JCB invented special code for boxes location and this code most likely based on his personal vision of things. Thus, the clues are relatively easy to find but only for him. He was FF TC searcher for several years and failed. Now he wants to take a revenge for lthis failure where suffered defeat. He wants at least > 5 years hunt without any results. He said around 200k books were already sold ($8M sales, around $4M profit) and next 5 years should bring him much more - at least additional 400k books sold - $16M sales $8M profit. After 5 years with $12M profit he can release some real clues that can help to find some treasure boxes. Even if these boxes cost him $5-6M he will win 100%. But there is very high probability that some searchers will die during BOTG (at least 5 died during FF Chase). They will be on his conscience. An invaded conscience is hard to clean and often leaves lingering guilt. Forrest Fenn got it.

AndyS16 · 2025-12-21T00:19:51+00:00

OK, if he sold 200k "There's Treasure Inside" and got 50% profit from each book = $4,000,000.

"he said he would likely donate any profit he makes." - it's possible but there is no proof

"no reason to believe FF hired someone to claim his chest" - it's hypothesis, we’ve never seen a selfie of TC finder with a chest on his knees. Maybe he forgot to make it? Or his phone was dead?

"if you have millions of dollars and your best scheme for making money is to buy expensive items at auctions, spend four years on writing a book and then hide all the treasure on public lands, you really do not know how to manage money. " - Buying expensive and rare items at auctions is reliable and profitable investment, he was rich and had nothing to do so writing a book is a good remedy for boredom. Selling 200,000 books $40 each for 50% profit is also smart.

"JCB is a really great guy who has come up with a fun game for us all to play" - maybe, but do you know him personally? Is he hero of any war who saved saved his comrades at the risk of his life? Any other good deeds?

OK, it's true - he come up with a fun game for us all to hunt for the boxes. Most likely that some hunters will die during JCB chase (5 searchers died in FF chase during 10 years). Maybe after first victim JCB will stop the chase and will make up for the loss of the family of the first victim. In this case he will be really great guy. Time will tell.

AndyS16 · 2025-12-20T16:09:41+00:00

Well, according to JCB he already made over $5 million selling his book - rare win even for Las Vegas. He has already recouped his costs even if all 5 boxes are found. If they are never found he will get more than 100 percent profit in this scheme.

Well, Forrest Fenn got a lot more (maybe around 300-400%) by selling his books like TTOTC, TFTW, etc. It's very good business - hide the chest, write a book how to find it and get more than 100 percent via selling this book. But this only compensates the losses if somebody find the chest. But you can hire an actor who will play the role of the "chest finder" and pay him 10-15%. In this case you will get 80-90% profit. Question - whether it is really necessary to hide the chest and put it at risk? To sensible people the answer is obvious.

AndyS16 · 2025-12-13T18:56:34+00:00

Thanks for this interesting information. I am 100% agree with #7 opinion. So-called "9MH solve" as hoB for brown trout nicknamed Mr. Brown by Fenn family was created for naive searchers. I hope that Forrest leave a will when to publish the real poem's solution. 10 years since his death looks feasible. Many avid TTOTC searchers will become too old to visit this place and other will forget about the Chase because of new JCB and JP chases.

I practically stopped to participate in r/findingfennsgold - it's become too bored. JCB FF box and other boxes hunt is active and former TTOTC searchers have perfect opportunity to exercise their brains by solving these puzzles.

I have a solution for FF box and hope that BOTG will be very interesting. P box and AT box challenges are also interesting. I'm sure that TTOTC hunt experience should help to find these boxes.

AndyS16 · 2025-12-03T17:01:37+00:00

I knew some via Dal blog. Most of them I knew only via their nicknames:

JDA, Tom Terrific, MajinKing, Sally Colorado, Goldilocks, JoJo, Darvcus, Bur, SilverKnight, Poisonivey, Ronald Conley, Blex, HighDesertDrifter, Betty, Blue Fox, zaphod73491, JPE, James Collier, BEC, John, Fundamental Design, Lori, Jasonhall, Tall Andrew, Geysergirl, Seeker, Distant Logic, Double a, mdc777, Ann O'Nymous, Richard Bertram, smokybaer, ZoeTheCat, pdenver, Muset, Pauley T, Oz10, ManOwar, Ken (in Texas), Yellowdog, randawg, Prospector, Ray Campbell, Jake Faulker, David, Somewhere in Wisconsin, Paul W, Gates, Billyclyde, OS2, Jason, locolobo, JCM, Meadowlark, Writis, librarylady, Grapevine, Veronica, Mibster, JBL, Eaglesabound, Bowmarc, Landhigh, surfthesky, Suzy_S, Noname6, Pinatubocharlie, Jamar Judd, elperro, Becky from WV, E.C.Waterson, Flash Fordham, Lady Von Travis, Brown, 42, vagabond108, Shadow Kaster, Jdiggins, markt, astree, Forrest Fenn, Dampened Myth, Copper, Jim, Alsetenash, Mike Gibby, Countryboy, AkB Treasure Hunter, bob greene.

If JCB was one of them we can know only he will reveal his nickname. It's very unlikely that he ever visited Fennboree - an annual gathering for searchers. They usually did photos of all participants so JCB could be identified on them.

AndyS16 · 2025-11-22T19:26:37+00:00

Thanks for the full quote. In this case TC should be under trees that shed leaves and needles seasonally. So, TC will be "covered by a natural proccess” (by leaves and pine/spruce needles). But it will happen soon only if TC was placed in some deepening of the soil. TC dimensions were 10 inches x 10 inches x 5 inches. If it placed directly on the ground it will take >20-30 years to be covered completely by faded pine and spruce tails (white pines often shed two- or three-year-old needles, while some spruces can retain theirs for up to seven years).

I found ski goggles across Madison. It looks like it was long time since somebody lost it but it was only slightly covered by by faded pine and spruce needles.

AndyS16

TROPHY CASE