By David Strawn
I’m qualified to be the next Indiana Jones, right? Dreaming of a chest of gold, rubies, diamonds and antique jewelry worth over $1 million and rumored to be hidden a few short hours away, I certainly hope so.
The hunt was contrived by retired art dealer Forrest Fenn, and in his 2010 memoir Thrill of the Chase, he released a single poetic treasure map leading to the hidden booty. I was hooked.
With a not-too-picky appetite for travel, the flexibility to sleep in tents and hotels, cars and couches, and armed with the tools of the Internet, I packed up my bags. Taking what the ’49ers would have called my necessaries. That means a suitcase and a trunk with all the camping and climbing gear I’ll need.
I threw in the chargers for my digital toys, and made the move to plug in my iPod. This was where I faced the toughest choice yet – starting this treasure hunt to the tune of Bob Dylan’s “Like a Rolling Stone” or a favorite start from Yonder Mountain. Choice made, Dylan. It’s more in tune with my roots.
In tune – that’s why I’m doing this. It is in tune with my life. No lease, and no school, just means that the world can be my apartment and the people along the way be my teachers. I realize the odds of my finding a treasure chest filled with gold, coins, diamonds and rubies are roughly equivalent to the odds of my safely passing a police officer on the interstate, but that hasn’t slowed me down yet. So like rolling a stone, I’m going to get the first breadcrumb in Santa Fe.
I can’t be too crazy to do this, right? I’ll keep a log of things that happen and whatever odd jobs I can get along the way; there’s nothing like being a stranger in a new city to notice a few things about it, and no one like a treasure hunter to appreciate the breadcrumbs along the way.
Most students my age want to get an internship to gain experience or build their résumé. Maybe I could construct a résumé for treasure hunting.
What might I include on a treasure hunter’s résumé? Well, growing up my folks kept me in Boy Scouts, so I learned a wealth about camping and the outdoors. That could help. As a kid I usually did really well in capture the flag, which is kind of like finding a hidden treasure. And I’ve taken an archaeology class where I learned strategies just like those of Indiana Jones. Oh, and I love finding money. I’ve read all of Treasure Island, played “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” and fallen in love with “National Treasure.” My availability? For the next few months, it’s 24/7. Can you relocate for the job? Yes, as of May 1 the only address I have is an email address.
Since no one lives in a vacuum, my family and friends will have some of my attention too. I’ll be able to stay for a few days or a week at a time on the hunt. And I’ll get to follow wherever the chase leads. Be it my naiveté, my lack of attachment, or something else – it’s high time to follow this trail to Santa Fe.
Next time, I’ll introduce the perspective of a long-time Santa Fe gem dealer, a Zen monk’s words about the value of work and the connection I make to treasure hunting. Until then, happy hunting.
David Strawn is a Fort Lewis College student from Creede. This is the first of a series on the travels of a treasure hunter searching for the riches of humans, nature and human nature.
