Blog posts

Once again, congratulations are in order from the Cooler Crew to the finders of the 2011 Winter Carnival Treasure Hunt. Veteran medallion hunting mother/daughter pair, Mary and Molly Hermes, along with Molly's boyfriend Dan Murphy uncovered the puck in the area of the old ski jump at Battle Creek Park at about 2:30 this morning after a mere seven clues. In a hunt that had many of the masses in Como Park until the release of clue 7, with its Battle Creek anagram, this years finders managed to line everything up correctly to come up with the full $10,000 prize!

In telling their tale, the finders created a sad story for another hunter somewhere. After searching within a cavern-like root structure from an under-eroded tree, a tree which had already had its snow removed by a previous hunter, Molly stated it was literally sitting on top of the snow as she sat down next to it.  Presumably that root system was where the puck was planted, and in an effort to hurriedly clear the snow, some other hunter inadvertently discarded the puck, and the prize. Incidentally, that person's story is in our Wall of Shame.

Let this be a lesson to all of us for next year. Don't ever give up. Don't look at a potential hiding spot and discard it without checking. And finally, don't just toss the snow anywhere because you may just be tossing out the baby with the bath water as they say.

As I write this, without the benefit of having the official explanations, or the last five clues, I'm also editorializing the clues for this site. For some of them, I'll have to wait until the official list comes out from the paper. But for others, man, for the first time in a long time the clue writer gave us a really good set of clues, just the way we like 'em. I just hope the explanations don't go and ruin the look.

Congratulations to Mary, Molly, and Dan!

There was something distinctly unsatisfying with this hunt in the end. Consequently we're going to do something a bit different with the Mock Hunt this year. Instead of doing it a month later, we're going to kick it off at the Rehash Bash next Sunday the 6th. The first clue will come out at the event. After that the clues will come out at 7pm. There will be one per day. They will be posted on the Allison Wonderland Yahoo group (it shows up in the lower left side of this site), on the Cooler Crew board at ableminds.com, and on the Pioneer Press' board. It will be in a park in St. Paul. There are two ways to participate. One, you can be a registered hunter for $10. If you win, you get all the money collected or $200, whichever is more. Two, you can be an unregistered hunter for free. If you are unregistered and you win, you get a flat $100 and the rest of the money will go towards another contest.

If you're not planning to be at the Rehash Bash, you can still register by sending me the money via Paypal to this email address or send me an email and I'll give you an address to send the check to.

I expect we'll get a big turnout this year so there should be some good competition.

Follow the mock hunt clues here

"Read the daily clues to search for the Pioneer Press medallion hidden on public land in Ramsey County." Its been apart of the treasure hunt rules in one way shape or form for as long as I can remember. Granted I've only been paying attention to the hunt since about 1990 or so, and has really been active in it since Conway in 1999. But in all those years, the puck has been on public land in Ramsey County. In 1979, in fact, the medallion made its one and only venture out of the county, placed in Marthaler Park in West Saint Paul. One can only assume that Ramsey County was not a part of the rules in those days, since the throngs of irate hunters descending on the Pioneer Press building would have made the Vulcan's overthrow of Boreas look like a flick of a Bic. Sure, every year some clown posits that its in Powderhorn or Theo Wirth Parks. We can only assume that these posts are in jest, with those two being in Minneapolis, a distinctly un-Ramsey County location.

Then there's the Fairgrounds. In recent years they've been off limits, at least in name, but that wasn't always the case, with Ma Press even hiding the puck there in both 1953 for the second hunt of the year and again in 1967. Trying to dig there today though will get you a stern talking to by the State Fair Police, followed by an escort off the grounds. But yet they're the "State" Fairgrounds. Aren't they public land in Ramsey County? According to legend the grounds are currently private property. This discussion came up this evening in the Cooler Crew Discussion Boards, and prompted me to do some digging around.

The first place I looked was Ramsey County's online GIS system for property records. According to the County, in whose boundaries the Fairgrounds lie, the grounds themselves are owned by the Minnesota State Agricultural Society. That doesn't really sound like the sort of private enterprise that would make the grounds private property, so I did some to'ing and fro'ing to find out exactly what the State Ag. Society was. My best friend for this sort of task, Google, referred me to Chapter 37 of the Minnesota State Statutes. In section 13, subdivision 1, We find that "The state owns all money and other property of the society in the name of the society and there may be no division of its assets among society members." Presumably this property would include the society's real estate, i.e., the Farigrounds. Arguably, according to state law anyway, the Fairgrounds are public land.

Let's go back and read section 1: "The State Agricultural Society is a public corporation." Yes, this lends more credence to the grounds being public land. Later on in that section we find this sentence: "Any part of the State Fairgrounds which is within the boundaries of a city or other political subdivision of the state is detached from the city or political subdivision". The fairgrounds are most definitely within the boundaries of Ramsey County, the city of Falcon Heights, and potentially, depending on how you look at the boundaries, the city of Saint Paul. However, the legal impact of that sentence within the statute has the effect of creating a political subdivision, containing the State Fairgrounds, on the same level as a County, but one that is completely surrounded by Ramsey County, an enclave. It is very similar to how Vatican City is a separate "nation" completely surrounded by the city of Rome.

By that one small sentence, which was put in place in 1982 and amended to its current state in 1985, the state Legislature placed the Fairgrounds off-limits to the hunt. Why is that? Because although they are public land (remember, the state owns the land, through the quasi-agency known as the Minnesota State Agricultural Society), that land is surrounded by Ramsey County, but not within Ramsey County.

So, as they say on Mythbusters, the myth that the Fairgrounds are off limits to hunters because they are private land is busted. They're off limits becasue they're not in Ramsey County. Which of course explains why you can see police officers from various municipalities within the Twin Cities roaming around the fairgrounds, and not just those of Police Departments within Ramsey County.

Thanks to *MOM* and Terry for putting together this year's commemorative button. It will be available at the Pre-Dig at Yarusso's, and from Coolerheads during the hunt.

As the holidays arrive and 2010 comes to a close, some of us are reminded that the 2011 Treasure Hunt is just around the corner. Planning for the 2011 Pre-Dig Gig is already in the works. Stay tuned here for information about that and other Cooler Crew gatherings during and after the hunt. Rumor has it that the pre-dig is going to become an official Winter Carnival event this year.

In addition to joining us on our discussion boards, you may also want to join us on our Facebook group.

Also, you may have noticed that the non-holiday logo has been changed:

Thanks go to to Big G for designing it a few years back. We think its a more modern look on a classic theme, and hope you do too.

History

Back in 1885, a New York reporter noted that St Paul was “another Siberia, unfit for human habitation”. This gave birth to the novel idea for a celebration of our wintry clime. Families and communities came together to participate in the St Paul Winter Carnival; a tradition that continues today, over 120 years later as the coolest celebration on earth.

The Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt began in 1952, where “hidden in Boreas' rollicking realm, lay his treasure.” A small treasure chest made of wood, with the instructions on how to claim the prize inside. Arthur M. Jensen found this treasure in Highland Park on the 11^th clue, which told of two tree stumps to the west. With his big $1000 win, his wife splurged and bought herself a new hat!

There are a few things that you can do to ensure that you have a successful medallion hunt as well. Maybe you won't win the prize, but you can share in the magic of family and tradition that the St Paul Winter Carnival brings to us each year.

The Fun Part

“It is time again, to pick up a pen
and delve into the clues mysteries.
Grab yourself a chair, but you must beware
the clues are full of trickeries.

The time is near for you, my dear
to bundle up and bring your luck
the hunt has begun, now have some fun
and bring home the cherished puck!”

The clues are mesmerizing as clever little poems. Take the above “clue” as an example. At first glance, it is telling you that the clues are tricky and that the hunt has begun. But that's no fun, the cluewriter needs to make sure that only those who put forth a little effort can find this. What fun would it be if you were just given directions, and had to foot race 2,000 people to the location?

Digging deeper into the above clue, you have a few different possibilities. “Chair” could represent something that the medallion is near, or attached to. It could also be a reference point for another clue, if it means anything at all. “Trickeries” could be just that, the clues are hard to figure out due to deception, or it may point to the magic shop across the street from the medallions location. “The time is near” may refer to a large clock nearby, but for sure, “the cherished little puck” means the medallion. Right? Or is it referring to the park having a hockey rink?

It is easy to confuse yourself and get caught up in the clues thinking that every word has meaning. This happens every year when a newbie comes along and deciphers every word in the first clue to give the entire directions and location to the medallions location. There may be more to the first clue than some have realized, 15 times since 1952 there has been more information in the first clue than just general information or if it is in St Paul or not.

Bring the family together on this. Call up some of your friends, meet for dinner and discuss the clues. The most enjoyable part of the medallion hunt for many is the opportunity to spend a lot of time with their family and friends. There is a closeness that develops when you really get into the deciphering. Consider this, you are decoding the map to a treasure of $10,000, and you are trusting your family and friends to not leave you in the dust and find it for themselves. You are doing more than just spending time with your friends, you are building trust with them as well.

So you think you've figured out tonights clue. You run out the door because you know the exact location of the puck and you are going to just reach down and pick it up. Wrong. Don't be the guy who runs out in the middle of the woods when it is -17 degrees outside with just a windbreaker and tennis shoes. You can die or become seriously injured from the cold. Stop and bundle up. You will be out there longer than you think.

If there is any snow at all you are not going to move it with just your hands. You will need a tool of some sort. Hoes are very popular this time of year, as are garden rakes and shovels. Remember the saying, “search, don't destroy”, as it cannot be said enough. You just want to move the snow, weeds, or whatever. Do not dig into the ground; on that note, do not climb up trees either. The medallion will be within easy reach for the average individual. It has been that way for over 55 years. A 3 inch piece of Lucite hidden within 170 square miles doesn't need to be hidden too hard at all. Hunters will be spread out among many parks throughout the county. If you get close enough to find it, and you are a persistent digger with a keen eye, you will find it. Maybe.

Take your kids out with you and build a family tradition that they can carry over to their kids. This is a great opportunity to be an active part of their lives. My Grandpa, Larry Graber, found the Dispatch-Pioneer Press Treasure Chest in 1954 at Hidden Falls Park, the 4^th hunt ever. Imagine what goes through my mind as I think I am very close to finding the medallion! It is an amazing closeness to him that I can share even though he moved to Calvary Cemetery back in 2001.

Whatever it is that you do during the medallion hunt, do it safely, do it responsibly, and have fun doing it. So suit up, head out and enjoy the coolest celebration on earth!

• How to Find the Saint Paul Winter Carnival Medallion
• 2010 Treasure Hunt Rules - TwinCities.com
• Interactive Map: Treasure Hunt medallion locations by year
• Cooler Crew - You Dig?
• st paul winter carnival map -Treasure Hunters Guide
• Treasure Hunt Headquarters

January 16, 2010 -- Obb's Bar, St. Paul, MN

Tonight marked the 12th annual Cooler Crew Pre-Dig Gig. Over the course of the evening, we figure some 125 people or more came through the room. There were lots of old faces, and plenty of new ones joining in the fun!

As in the past several years, Clue Master ran the park pick pool. This year the pool was a little different. Everyone involved selected the order that they would be picking, but rather than have a single board, Cluey put together a pair of picks. One entry got you one pick on one of the boards. There was a lot of interest outside St. Paul proper this year.

Mom and Dad had the annual Cooler Crew button, which can be seen in the Pre-Dig gig announcement. Having a Cooler Crew button gets you 1/2 off appetizers and $1 off bar drinks at Yarusso's during the hunt. If you don't have one, find Ares at the PP, Yarusso's or contact him on Ableminds (or this site, or Facebook) to get one.

Lil'Man hooked us up with all the music we could stand, all night long, from the DJ booth, while lilslim brought in the karaoke laptop and enabled folks to hook us up with all the music we couldn't stand scattered throughout the evening. Not surprisingly, the karaoke booth grew more popular as the night progressed, as people "worked up the courage" to sing. Wicked Nick and Cereal Killer provided us with a rendition of Kenny Rogers' "The Gambler", and we were treated to a wonderful performance of the now viral "Pants on the Ground" from American Idol.

On a more personal note, we had a moment of silence honoring Zephy and all the other troops serving overseas, putting their lives on the line for us, as well as a moment of silence and a collection taken up for Mystical_muzik, after losing her husband Mark. We raised over $400 for the cause, and Jimmy from Obb's kicked in another $1,000!

All in all, a great way to kick off a great two-week tradition!

Coolerheads will prevail!!!