Allison Wonderland Mock Hunt Hiding List
Allison Wonderland started the mock hunt in 2000, as a way to pass time between the Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt, and Fitger's Bock Hunt. He squeezed the two words together, and came up with Mock. In 2000, it was a virtual hunt, in which participants needed only their Treasure Hunter's Guides, with a $10,000 Monopoly Money prize. In 2001, it became an actual hunt, with a cash prize, and has been that way ever since. The "AW Hunt" is typically regarded as the hunt that kicks off the Mock Hunt season each year, with the finder of his hunt writing the next one, and so on.
| Year | General Location | Pinpointed location | How it was concealed |
| 2010 | Como Park | In a crevasse in the stonework on the southern staircase leading up to the waterfalls above the frog pond | A black felt pouch |
| 2009 | Highwood Hills Park | Near the end of the fence by the playground | iPod Nano Box |
| 2008 | Cherokee Park | In the picnic area across from the main parking lot, near a tree | Wrapped in white yarn |
| 2007 | Newell Park | In a tree near the center of the south end of the park | Directly inside a crack in the tree |
| 2006 | North Dale Rec. Center | Along the fence along the first base line of ball field #1 | In bandages and covered with leaves |
| 2005 | Sackett Park | Between two wooden poles | A $1 chip from the Bicycle Casino in Los Angeles, wrapped in an Eclipse gum wrapper and concealed with leaves |
| 2004 | Marydale Park | On the north side of the lake in a depression under a tree near a group of picnic tables | A fake rock |
| 2003 | Hidden Falls Park | Near the overlook above the falls | In a tealight candle |
| 2003 | Battle Creek Park | Down the ravine from Battle Creek Middle School | Inside a broken pocket watch, and tucked inside a fallen log |
| 2002 | Phalen Park | Across Wheelock Parkway from the main gates amidst some tall grass | A mud-covered jewelry box |
| 2001 | Linwood Park | Under the retaining wall behind the tennis courts | snow |
| 2000 | Tilden Park | Near the playground equipment | The snow |
During the 1990’s, the St Paul Pioneer Press opened online discussion forums. These forums were called Water Coolers. The forums had discussion topics related to sports, politics, news, and current events. Each year, the Pioneer Planet – the online section of the Pioneer Press – opened a discussion forum as a media for hunters to discuss the clues for the Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt.
During the earlier years, one might find a few hundred posts during the hunt. As more hunters had computers, those numbers jumped. From 1997 to 1998, the number of posts increased from the hundreds to the 5-digit thousands. It was during the 1998 hunt the Cooler Crew was born.
The community spirit and teamwork displayed in the Pioneer Press Medallion Hunt thread was inspiring. The group of hunters found themselves at the end of a hunt not wanting to let go of new friendships and the camaraderie found on the Water Cooler board. The idea emerged to do what anyone would do in the middle of winter in Minnesota. A picnic in Cherokee was planned - the first Rehash Bash!
