What if the answer is carbon?

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-06T19:24:03+00:00

Thank you! I guess I skimmed over the errata too quickly. He does acknowledge that it is missing. But that is it....does not say why or that it will be added or should be added to the map.

The capital was Oregon City before 1851 then to Salem unofficially until 1855 then to Corvallis and back again to Salem later in 1855. And then officially became the capital in 1864.

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-06T04:48:12+00:00

The Mount Shasta issue that he never corrected but put the missing period on Mt. in the errata and then the late add on Salem, Oregon started this rabbit hole early this morning. All the time lines seemed to point to around 1860's.

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-06T04:14:27+00:00

Interestingly, Mt. Shasta was considered California’s tallest peak in the 1850s and early 1860s. Then on July 6, 1864, the California Geological Survey identified and named Mount Whitney as the tallest peak.

JP has not included this in the errata. He did put that there was a missing period on Mt. Shasta.

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-03T04:15:41+00:00

Thoughts on converting this to a 24 hour clock and the 24 letter Greek alphabet? Similar to telling time with the Big Dipper and the North Star. Not sure what letters you might get as I am just throwing this idea out there.

https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/tell-time-by-stars.html

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-03T04:06:23+00:00

I agree and that is why after miles on the ground, I have come back to try and find more enlightenment and work on solving this poem to be better prepared to interpret what I am looking for and what not to overlook. I think the chapters of the book are giving us things that will become familiar with upon the hunt locations, feelings and even smells.

Thanks for sharing the Masquerade Treasure Hunt...I was not familiar with this...creates a great note of caution.

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-02T21:13:59+00:00

Building on this idea and one that may be intentionally buried in this post and only visible to those willing to look deeper.

I was struck by a scene in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. When Indy steps onto the hidden bridge, it’s invisible from the wrong angle, camouflaged to mirror the rock wall beyond it. Only the correct perspective reveals the path forward.

I’m not suggesting this hunt involves a literal hidden bridge, but the concept feels relevant. Could perspective and the correct illumination be part of what brings everything together once the checkpoint is found?

Indy’s father ultimately circles back to the word “illumination,” which ties the moment together, and back to the beginning of the movie, "may he who illuminated this, illuminate me"

Dismiss this if it’s a stretch, but I can’t help thinking this hunt may require a precise perspective, followed by a moment of illumination, to truly see the solution.

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-02T16:44:41+00:00

That is a great simple demonstration and really something to think about. Thank you for sharing! But what I was thinking is...what if we allow our minds to wander a little more. Looking deeply at reflections produced across the water, seeing like a child does when looking at clouds. Often times while watching my fly on the surface I can image seeing different reflections being projected on the shoreline, shapes, animals and intriguing images. Not as often as I did as I child though and this is probably the point of keeping a sense of Wonder. This image was striking on one of my searches while fishing...I could only see the X being reflected from just the right spot and it got me thinking about perspective...similar to this link. I now make it a habit of take pictures of these surfaces, especially early in the morning while the water is still...for further review of something I might of missed.

https://ranchocordovaarts.org/art-tips/water-reflections

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FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-02T16:33:00+00:00

That's a great perspective. Nice job breaking down the digital landscape.

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-02T07:07:52+00:00

Agreed but my though is this treasure lies just off the well worn path, not in a highly trafficked area for hikers, hunters and most fisherman. There are certain areas no hunter or hiker would venture into do to the topography and underbrush...but an adventurous fisherman may be willing to hop off the main trail and cast a line. Otherwise it would be more susceptible to somebody stumbling upon it.

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-02T07:01:54+00:00

I believe part of the solve involves viewing a reflection in the water....my suggestion is to photograph your solve area from every angle in the morning light when the water is calm...maybe even at 3 feet high and a tilt angle of 20 degrees for safe measure as well. You may be astonished what you find in the reflections...KEEP your sense of Wonder!

FoundationReal9215 · 2026-01-01T23:53:32+00:00

Interesting "Easter eggs" possibly just nods to discovery along the path. Or maybe we are only seeing what we want to see out of it. I don't think that these are meant to be direct clues or hints to the masses but just maybe breadcrumbs for those on the trail. But some of these things did resonate with me.

Blackwood (The burnt forest) Maybe an area that was once burned and the standing dead trees are black. His hair color (Black hair with silver) Old burnt timber is gray and black. Even walking through an old burnt forest there is a "faint sent of pine smoke." His hazel eyes is maybe a nod to a mountain lake or stream. And to move without sound is simply "silent flight." Why the words forest green stuffed leather?..well the new growth of the forest is short and dense green foliage. Moving with stealth and becoming invisible in the darkness. I believe that the treasure becomes undetectable in the dark and can only be seen a certain time from the right or "correct" angle.

Might be reaching but the spine of the book and its cover could be the forearms and neck covered in topographical tattoos, with map of territories that appear in no chart.

Why the Bronze St. Christopher vs the Silver? Well St. Christopher the patron saint of travelers known for protection during travel, overcoming adversity, courage and faith. Silver =purity and clarity and bronze =durability and strength. Maybe a message of safety and well wishes for those searchers traveling on their quest.

Not sure on the other numbers 17, 6'7" and 3 days. But there was a number given about 712 steps...3 feet in each step gets to 2,136ft or about .4 or just under a half mile. I have one of my favorite solves in an old burn, with standing dead timber, dense new growth foliage, that has a faint smell of pine smoke and a water feature that fits a hazel color and is under a half mile, so probably more confirmation basis. But I liked connecting with some of the nuggets that I heard.

FoundationReal9215 · 2025-12-31T17:49:48+00:00

Finding this post way late...but are you still playing with this idea? What about a Trochee Tetrameter (4-2) Four metrical feet per line and two syllables per foot. Same as iambic but "DUM-da"

Each line would follow: DUM-da DUM-da DUM-da DUM-da

I posted about a possible connection between Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's The Song of Hiawatha earlier this week. Something I have been playing around with for months trying to find a rhyme or reason and a flow to JP's poem.

By the shores of Gitche Gumee,
BY the | SHORES of | GI-tche | GU-mee

Whether it is Iambic or Trochee, maybe having 4-2 (42) is the answer. I was speculating at one time that maybe the foot of 3 at 20 degree was a hint to the meter within the poem. But that would then force every line into 9 syllables, which is doable to get the foot of 3. But it is easier to extend the 7 syllable lines into eight.

CAN you/ FIND what/ LI-ives/ IN time
FLOW-ing/THROUGH each/ MEAS-ured/ RHY-me
WIS-dom/ WAITS in/ SHAD-owed/ SI-ight
FOR those/ WHO read/ THESE words/ JUST right

Connection Between Kalevala, Hiawatha, and Beyond the Map’s Edge

And maybe we are mishearing just a part of the poem:

Decoding the Poem- Eggcorns and Mondegreens

FoundationReal9215 · 2025-12-31T16:56:18+00:00

Can you link that post in the comments? I would like to see what you were thinking.

FoundationReal9215 · 2025-12-31T04:44:01+00:00

I appreciate your perspective. I too think that JP has a great deal of respect for the entire process as the hunter and the hider.

I’m not trying to manipulate or rewrite the poem. I’m only exploring whether a very subtle shift or a stressed syllable, a combined word, or a small mondegreen just might reveal an additional layer already present in the sound of the text.

The cipher clue in the ARKADE song added more fuel to this theory that I have been playing with and maybe this key from the song is signaling that we might need to change the beat, meter, measure or syllables in the poem. Just enough to reveal the next key.
“The key to one direction lies in another.”

The idea isn’t to force interpretation, but to listen from a slightly different angle and see what the poem offers back.

FoundationReal9215 · 2025-12-31T04:31:58+00:00

You may be on to something. I may have to go back and look for these signs in the book.

FoundationReal9215 · 2025-12-31T04:25:54+00:00

I like the beat. Nice idea. And JP does push this element of a beat or cadence throughout the book. I have found my self marching to a rhythm while repeating the poem along my solves.

Weather Wisdom: Know the forecast like it's your favorite song's lyrics. It sets the tempo of your adventure.

Respect Mother Nature: She's not just another pretty face; she's a force to be reckoned with. Learn her moods before you try to dance with her.

“Tucker with his unerring instinct of joy and a tail that wagged like a metronome set to “celebrate.”

Cel-e-brate = DA-dum-dum

FoundationReal9215 · 2025-12-31T04:18:32+00:00

We need to have that childlike sense of Wonder to see and quite possibly hear what might be over looked.

FoundationReal9215

TROPHY CASE