February 8th, 2004

Phalen Park

This years picnic in the park where the medallion was found, again saw the gathering of friends both new and old. On this cloudy, blustery day with the sound of the races out on the lake behind us, there were approximately 50 folks that attended. Name tags were a super idea! Thanks to those that made sure we were appropriately tagged!

The food laid out on the stage of the amphitheater was an amazing assortment of goulash, hot dish, sloppy joe medallions, meat balls and little weenies, windmill cookies, dips, chips, desserts, green donuts and salads. This Crew knows good food and knows how to throw a party!

A fire was started off in the distant fire ring for those wishing to warm up a bit. Thanks to all who gathered wood and got the fire going!

East Side Digger had a copy of his Cooler Kid book. Nice to see that talent! Big G had great window clings for sale and Mom had Cooler Crew buttons with for those that wanted them.

There was the usual trek to the place the medallion was found, conversation about the clues, the clue writer, theories and conspiracies. Me2 gave a speech that warmed the hearts of those attending. She summed up best what we all feel about the family we’ve become.

KT had the floor next. She had gathered door prizes for the day and there were several winners of these clever prizes. This was a new part of the festivities but hopefully not the last!

It’s seemingly impossible that this is the 7^th rehash bash. That first event found us meeting face to face with folks we had never seen before. What an awesome memory. Now every year we are joined by new faces who must feel that same sense of awe. We hope you all continue to be a part of this community!

Coolerheads will Prevail!

The 6th Annual Pre-Dig Gig at Patrick McGovern’s on Saturday, January 24, 2004 saw the gathering of old hunting friends sprinkled liberally with first time attendees. Roughly 100 folks came and went during the evening. As always, the stories of previous hunts, predictions of where the medallion will be found sometime in the next 12 days, the greeting of old and new friends alike made this annual gathering one this writer wouldn’t miss. The evening, as always, was capped off with the reading of the first clue.

Mom and Dad had this year’s Cooler Crew commemorative buttons and East Side Digger had bumper stickers for sale. If you missed the opportunity to purchase a button or bumper sticker, there will be more opportunities to get your collectibles from these creative folks during the hunt and at the Rehash Bash.

The laughter, the din of conversation, putting faces with on-line names, the meeting of new Cooler Crew members and the camaraderie of those obsessed with hunting for a little blue puck in the parks marked the beginning of the 2004 Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt. Let’s hope a Coolerhead finds it this year!

Coolerheads will Prevail!!!!!!

Okay, I'll write about my thoughts on the hunt, the process of making it, why I did some of the things I did.

First off, I had to pick myself a park. I ruled off a number of parks because of familiarity with them or them being used in previous hunts. So Como, Harriet, Battle Creek, Mounds, Phalen were all off the list. I decided I wanted to try and do a park that people were not as familiar with. One that would be unexpected. I had gone to a number of parks in my travels, and I revisited some. Mattocks was one I came upon again, because it isn't as far from my home. I liked how it looked, and it seemed like it had a lot with which to use.

When I was looking at Mattocks in my THG, I noticed that there were a number of things in the park that were not in the guide. I thought that would be great for the hunt. I know we all rely heavily on our guides. This would help me in making the hunt go longer. I made a few trips to the park, using my little notebook to take notes on everything I could. Signs in the park, landmarks, anything of note regarding houses adjoining the park, things that could be seen from the park, words on man holes and fire hydrants, street numbers. Just anything that I thought could be used. If I had an idea for how I wanted to use something in a clue, I jotted the idea down.

With all this information, I formulated how I wanted to construct the hunt. I decided that with this hunt, I wanted to make each clue into a little separate puzzle if I could. My desire wasn't to put together a hunt where you were told what to look for, but that you had to think with each clue. I also wanted to incorporate some ideas and feelings I have on what should be open for use in regards to cluewriting.

As I went along I realized that this gave me an opportunity to mold this hunt to where it would make us better hunters. Better hunters by introducing new ways to get information into clues (acronym in clue 6, usage of names in clue 8). Better hunters by trying to get people to not rely so much on the THG, but also getting out into the parks to either look for yourself, or do homework yourself. Better hunters by getting to smaller parks to see, and considering smaller parks. I started off the first clue with Ramsey County because I hoped people would do some looking into non-St Paul parks which may be used, and at least knowing what is out there. I thought clue 2 may be a bit of a sore spot with some hunters, because it is similar to the French school clue of last years hunt. I felt after last year's hunt though that we should consider anyting that can be seen from a park, whether you can see a sign on it or not. So while you cannot see the sign of the home itself, you can see the home. I thought that if we considered those possibilities, we could be better hunters.

For the most part I came up with the clues individually. I wanted to try and have different themes to the clues. Not all of one thing, but a mix. Word plays, number games, trivia, history, lining things up, riddles. With that in mind I took my notebook with me to work or other places, and just wrote down ideas when I had time. I would sometimes write out a whole clue in 5 minutes, or write down an idea for work on later. For some of the clues, I just tried to concentrate on one aspect, whereas others I tried to get multiple items into it.

I never really tried getting my clues to lead you to a decoy park. I figured that the clues would be hard enough, and that with what I knew as far as the THG being wrong, I wouldn't really need a decoy park. Besides, it seemed too much extra trying to lead you to another park. I was curious to see what people would come up with in response to some clues, and see what parks people would have as their favorites. When I wrote the "knew well" clue, I didn't even think about Newell. It just happened to work out that way. Some of the clues were deliberate in throwing you guys off, at least making you have to figure out what was meant. The golf ball clue would make you think of a golf course. The binoculars make you think of a scenic view. The water make you think of a lake or river or water tower. The historical marker being thought of in the park, not in a different park.

I was nervous about how some of the things would be taken. As the hunt went along, I realized you guys were really thrown off by some of the clues. I was honest really when talking to you guys about how far you were off. I didn't want to help you disregard parks and totally rule them out early though. I did drop hints here and there as I went along. But nothing blatant, and only in the public forum. I wanted a good fair hunt, that everyone enjoyed. I think I did an okay job. I just hope everyone had fun, and isn't too upset at where it was hidden or the clue meanings.

A documentary about the St. Paul Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt began production in 2001 and continued in 2002, you may have noticed the lights and cameras while trekking through our public parks during the last two hunts. Cinematographer Bud Gardner and Filmmaker Trent Tooley are returning to film again this year. "It was a painful decision to not show the film and shoot again this year, but the bottom line is that we want to get this thing right."

They're going to try to be as unobtrusive as possible -- trying to set up some more interviews early in the hunt when no one really knows where it is, and following people as they are scouting and digging.

You're encouraged to learn more about the project by visiting the NAHF site. If you were filmed during the last two hunts, or would like to be kept informed of screening info, please E-Mail: MedallionHuntDoc@aol.com.

Merriam Park

January 27th, 2002

Could there possibly be a better way to mourn the end of another hunt than rehashing the whole thing with others equally let down from a hunt—and a hunt that seemed way too short? I think not!

At least one hundred mourners gathered this afternoon at Merriam Park to share a fabulous potluck with other hunters of the St. Paul Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt. The meal included Rehash Goulash, Minnesota Wild Rice Casserole, Devil's Den Eggs, Medallion Candy, Ian's Sloppy Joe Medallions, and lots of chips—especially of the Pringle variety.

One of the finders from 1998, Maureen Hursey, attended the bash, as well as the three ladies that found the 1995 medallion in Battle Creek, Cookie Howard, Kay Anderson, and Rachel Olson. It was great to see the variety of folks that share this obsession!

We also found a few lurkers in attendance that felt comfortable coming to the bash even though they had never posted. That's so amazing! We must come across as friendly and welcoming for folks to feel that comfortable. It's happened at both the Predig Gig and the Rehash Bash this year! Let's hope that brings fewer lurkers and more folks sharing their thoughts and ideas about the hunt next year.

Merriam Park, being a park and recreation center, had a nice warming room with a ping pong table we could use to put food out on and a place to warm up a bit. It was much chillier and cloudier outdoors than it was forecast to be, so it was super to have a place to warm up a bit.

There was the usual trek to the site. The method of hiding it this year was questioned over and over again...leading to conspiracy theories and theories that the medallion had not been dropped until within a couple of hours of it being found. There was even an experiment done with a foil chip can top, scotch tape and something of about equal size and weight to the medallion and placed out under what little snow is left. The scotch tape became milky white after a couple of hours and did not stick well. Surely this will be a hunt discussed for years to come.

The good news is that there will be more hunts, more snow, better hiding (PLEASE!), and clever clue writing for us to noodle over. We only have 51 weeks to go!

Coolerheads WILL Prevail!

The medallion was found between two baseball fields by Mary Kay Hamilton of Woodbury and her son, Sean, 16. The fast find was tied for the second-quickest in hunt history. It may have been a lucky kick in the leaves this year, but it sounds like mom has paid her dues...even if she forgot to pay for a button this year. Read the clue explanations and some commentary on these explanations in our 2002 area.

Patrick McGovern's

January 19th, 2002

Amazement is the word that comes to mind about this year's predig party at McGovern's. There had to be by evening's end at least 100 people that had come and gone.

We took over an upstairs room at McGovern's. The room probably holds 50 people or so comfortably, but as usual, some folks came early and left, others came later, and some of us were there from beginning to end. We had the room packed.

There were several lurkers who have never posted but felt comfortable enough to come and introduce themselves. Additionally, Cathi Hogan, last year's finder came for awhile. She said she was going to be the first hunter to find it twice in a row. She has some challengers to that notion! Cookie Howard, Kay Anderson, and Rachel Olson, the finders from 1995 (Battle Creek) were in attendance. They've been hunting together since 1952 and continue to this day. Amazing! The 1969 finder (Victoria and 35E), Bill the RV guy, was also there for the duration of the evening.

Many of the Cooler regulars were present, some new faces appeared that I'm sure will turn up again during the hunt, and the evening was filled with fellow hunting enthusiasts.

Marley King and his Queen Kal had created bumper stickers that were ready for sale. They did a nice job with those! Thanks to the team work of E&H's Mom and Dad and Terry Valentine, this year's Cooler Crew commemorative buttons were ready! Steve Worthman had his Treasure Hunter's Guide, 2nd Edition, books for sale. Those have become quite popular with hunters. The medallion hunt seems to bring out the unique talent and creativity of medallion seekers.

The documentary crew was in attendance, complete with some interns hired locally to help with filming this year. Here's hoping those locals get the fever and join the hunt after the filming is completed this year!

Toward the end of the evening, a couple of folks headed to the Pioneer Press Building to get the first clue and brought it back to McGovern's. The early noodling included the concensus that we have a new clue writer this year. Possibly important key phrases discussed were "light a spark," "far and wide," and "have no fear."

An interesting aside to share here....just as the folks were leaving the Pioneer Press, there was a Press employee who mentioned that the Wisconsin edition contained the wrong clue. After some quick thinking, a store in Hudson, WI was called. Turns out it was the first clue from last year!

The hunt has begun!

As 2001 marked the 50th medallion hunt, special attention was given to last year's dig. One addition you may have seen on the plains of our public parks was a documentary film crew. Trent Tooley and Jackie Garry of Not Another Hollywood Film (NAHF) were shooting a documentary about the hunt called "No Time for Cold Feet." They promised to be back for 2002. You're encouraged to learn more about the project by visiting the NAHF site. E-Mail: MedallionHuntDoc@aol.com.

Como Park (West Picnic Grounds)

February 4th, 2001

I'm thinking close to 100 people were at the Rehash Bash; someone else thought more like 75. With folks coming and going, it's hard to tell...but this is definitely a growing phenonomen.

The Pioneer Press had a Coolerheads 2001 banner for the Torchlight Parade the night before, which we get to keep. We put it up in the shelter at the Rehash Bash. Thanks go out to "Mom and Dad" who brought propane heaters; we were able to stay reasonably warm in that kind of damp, Minnesota cold with a bit of a breeze and no sun.

As always, there was lots of food and talking. Cathi, the 2001 medallion finder, brought an ice cream cake decorated with the clues, a Dove soap box, and an Iron Man sock. She is just the best! She is so bubbly and so much fun!

One thing that kept coming up during the event was that there are lurkers who want to post but are having trouble getting through the registration process at the Planet. I hope that gets resolved. At least some of them are feeling comfortable enough to come out and meet everyone despite the fact that they can't post. It makes me wonder how many more are out there. Cathi is still trying to figure out how to post.

The documentary folks were there and will return next year. I think they didn't quite get everything they wanted—including the locust part of the hunt. One of these years, the hunt will last long enough to witness that again.

Excellent Insight

(from Water Cooler post)

Dickaroo, Jan 26, 2001 CST

Not everyone understands the hunt. It definitely gets in your blood. You've studied the clues. You know exactly where it is. You grab a tool (shovel, hoe, we all have our preference) and you head to the site with the true belief that it is a matter of getting out of the car, and picking up the prize. You can taste it.

You arrive to the reality of several hundred thousand cubic yards of snow, 3,000 other people, and a van selling mini-donuts...

Ah...the hunt...