I wonder if "a park lit up some nights" is directing you to a small park that is lit up some nights, and not just a part of a larger park that is lit up. "Before it gets hotter" could just mean before that park is on everyone's list and therefore the "hot pick", line (up) those (3) bodies of water and that park will be within that line and the site of the treasure.
Wow, that's a bit of a game changer. At the time of this posting Mounds was still tied for the lead with Phalen in the Park Pick Pool with 40 votes each. Here is where we were at:
Mounds - 40 Phalen - 40 Battle Creek - 37 Harriet - 30 Highland - 27 Bruce Vento - 25 Central Park - 10 Irvine - 10 Lower Landing - 10 Como - 7 Acorn - 2 Island Lake - 2
My interpretation is that in town means in St. Paul while swing down means go to the southern part of the park. Phalen has an outdoor hockey rink nearby with lights that would be on some nights. It could also be a reference to the Christmas light display they have hosted there, though I prefer a present tense explanation. Before it gets hotter, possibly suggesting it is already hot, could mean away from Frost Ave. in the north and closer to Burnquist in the south. Within Phalen there is a sign talking about the Phalen Creek watershed. If you look at the water flowing out of the first three "bodies", Willow, Kohlman, and Gervais, there is an arrow (line) pointing right at the SE corner of the lake. And then it says it will be in your "sites". Right where there arrow is pointing there is an "OnSite" porta potty.
I don't live in MN and didn't make the trip to hunt this year, but I generally follow along. This year, I have had more time and have been thinking more carefully about the clues.
The case that is made for Phalen (see other posts on this forum) can also be made for Trout Brook with some changes: Careful what flora you stomp - A section of that park is called trillium. You don't want to step on the trillium. Impeach is about Jackson (street) who was sort of impeached and sort of not (read about it) Clue four about herringbone/sawbones is about the nearby big cemetery Street car line next to park similar to Phalen There is water on the north side of the site and on the south side Clue 9 is about Hill. Those train tracks at the site were his and they end nearby. The site used to have a natural rise before the tracks were built. The math thing has to do with the math and science school right next door.
But, I have the same problem with Trout Brook as I do with Phalen. I can't make clue 7 work. I feel like you have to be in lowertown near the Saints field to line up the sites.
I'm stuck on something with regards to Phalen: While I agree that most of the clues seem to fit that southern area in the map above, in clue 7, the first two lines really sound like you have to go to lowertown and be near the Saints stadium (If you're in town, swing on down to a park lit up some nights). I interpret the second two lines as you have to line up the "sites" when there are not leaves on the trees (before it gets hot). I really can't square clue 7 with Phalen/BV.
There's an old streetcar that ran between Lake Como and Lake Phelan, Though rather than going straight like Wheelock park way does, It went down Dale, and At Summit started a steep decline into downtown St. Paul (plummet), before following E7th street and climbing the Bluff, proceeding up arcade and Forest streets before reaching its terminus at Lake Phelan. It seemed odd to me that something might plummet before it got to the bluff, but if you follow this track (11 on the map) - couple with its circuitous rout and starting and stopping like a streetcar would it seemed to make sense.
Clue 3 - the genuflect, bending knee in prayer, Catholic Church, Cathedral. So bending to find the clue is one thing, but can you actually see the cathedral from BVNS? Harriet? Clue 9 - Can you see the James J Hill house from these locations as well?I think being able to see landmarks that they are hinting about has to come into play right? In order to triangulate your search within a park. Thought I was done noodling, Im a wannabe addict.
To be honest, not really. I think that would be a logistical headache for the paper. Not to mention would it mean doubling the prize money? I feel pretty sure it's just one treasure we are looking for.
I think tonight we will get a Vento clue. I think Clue 11 will give us the park and it will probably be found then. I believe if you are in the right park, they have already defined a pretty small area. At this point I believe it has to be either BVNS, Swede, or the SE corner of Phalen, none of which will handle a big crowd very well, so they're keeping us off-balance. It would actually be kind of awesome to go into the 12th clue with people still spread out in multiple parks.
I must say, you all are doing a great job with noodling this, I however have completely went low carb (no pasta for me) and this has all gotten greek to me, LOL It really is fun throwing out thoughts, but there are just so many directions. You know what I do hate though, is the 11:30 PM late night run to the treasure, cuz no one found it yet and they're basically just telling you where the thing is. With as much snow as there is out there, it's going to take a while to dig that thing out. They do want to sell papers and create a buzz. I just hope someone finds it before the last "here it is" clue.
The Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt is part of the St. Paul Winter Carnival every year. While the prize can only go to one winner, The Allison Wonderland is dedicated to the community spirit of treasure hunting. Here, not only will you find out about the Pre-Dig Gig, the Rehash Bash, and various other social events, but we also discuss the clues here in a team effort to decipher them (albeit not always successfully). This is a place to discuss ideas respectfully, report on what's happening "on the ground", and provide each other with useful information. This is a public group so expect that anything posted will be seen by everyone.