2015 Mesabi Daily News Medallion Hunt

The first clue sets up the basics of the Medallion hunt, but there are hints within. Line 1, “four” — the hunt is, indeed, in Year Four, but the number is significant for a few reasons, and it will be repeated in upcoming clues. Not only is the Laurentian Divide commonly noted as being 4 miles from Virginia, but also the Medallion is hidden in the middle of a tree with four trunks growing together.

The clues in the Medallion hunt are cumulative, and it pays to not only observe each one individually, but to return to previous clues as you go. Of course, the clue writers cannot give away too much in the very first one. But Line 4 also has a hint — “bode” and “win, not lose” taken together refers to alpine ski racer and Olympic gold medalist Bode Miller. Not only does the Laurentian Divide recreation area have 15 miles of cross-country ski trails, but its history includes that as a downhill ski hill. The Lookout Mountain ski area, which opened in 1958, was complete with a lodge and chair lift.

Oh, and you could also say that while trying to figure out these clues can be a bit of a “chore” of its own — a fun one, that is — climbing Lookout Mountain can be a bit of one, too — yes, a fun one, also. However, there was no hiking involved in finding the Medallion, just a short little jaunt down a trail into the woods.

Line 1 — The Laurentian Divide is also known as the Northern Divide. It is one of the continental divides that also includes the Great Divide. This line could also refer to the nearby train tracks, as in the Great Northern Railway.

Line 2 — The very old rock located at the Laurentian Divide includes crisscrossing bodies of darker and lighter granite caused by several successive intrusions of molten rock. A marker at the site states: “Because of the complexity of the rock, this site is known as ‘Confusion Hill’ to local geologists.”

Line 3 is a subtle reference to keeping a “lookout.” And Line 4 is a reference to the ski trails at the rec area. The 24 km of trails are open to classic skiing and are mostly user-groomed and maintained, thus skiers “pave the way” for others.

Line 1, “it is not small,” thus it is large or giant. The Divide is part of the Giants Range, which is made up of several types of granite that formed several kilometers deep in the Earth’s crust about 2.7 billion years ago. Line 2, “narrowing down” and “not take forever” is a reference to skiing downhill. Line 3, “the easiest part” — the Medallion, located along the Fitness Loop, is marked as an easier section of the trails at the rec area. It is also not far from the trailhead.

Line 4, the Divide’s trail system is challenging.

Putting the lines together, it’s possible to think the Medallion could be located at Giants Ridge Ski Resort, where, by the way, the Pepsi Challenge cross-country ski race is held; and one should not be misled.

Line 1, there’s the “four” again. Line 2, the “noteworthy spaces” refers to the numbers in the clue, as Line 4 also hints at; “spaces,” as in both a location and an interval of time. (See Clue One for the explanation of “four”). Additionally, the one and three in one-third stands for 13 — Dec. 13, 1958, is the day the ski hill at Lookout Mountain opened for business.

Line 3 — “passes,” a subtle reference to a ski pass; “it parts” is a reference to the phenomenon whereby the watershed at the Laurentian Divide parts two different ways. In this line, also, the reference to the seasons is not only another indication of the number “four,” but also the Divide is open all four seasons. Additionally, time has passed and Lookout Mountain has changed so much from the days when skiers took a chair lift to the top of the hill — its past has parted.

Overall, this clue alludes to the atypical winter weather this month that, with so little snowfall, is not particularly conducive to skiing of any sort. Line 2 again references “northern,” as in the Northern Divide. Additionally, a ski hill should be on a north side of a mountain. The group of businessmen who launched the Lookout Mountain ski area initially started developing the wrong side of the hill.

Line 3 — “landing” is a subtle ski term. And, “this domain” is a reference to a territory over which rule is exercised by royalty — like a king ... king of the hill ... Lookout Mountain is a hill.

This clue ran in the Dec. 13 paper. It is a reference to that day in history — Dec. 13, 1958 — when the Lookout Mountain ski area opened. People came from near and far to check out the brand new ski hill, which was the brainchild of a group of local businessmen who were seeking financial gain, as well as offering families a place for outdoor recreation. “Looking” in Line 4 is also a reference to Lookout Mountain.

Line 1, “Goliath-sized” is again a reference to “giant,” as in Giant’s Range, and, of course, the large size of the hill; “adventure” subtly references the adventures to be had at the Divide; “don’t be thrown for a loop” once more means make sure you are looking at the correct “ski hill.” And, “loop,” specifically — the Medallion is located along the Fitness Loop at the Laurentian Divide rec area.

Line 3, “the confusion is great” refers to the noted complexity of the rock at the site, which is known as “Confusion Hill” to local geologists. “Blue” references the blue diamond that marks the difficult trails at the Divide. So, “don’t be blue” means don’t go as far as the difficult trails when pursing the Medallion.

It may be a boy band, but the group One Direction tends to appeal to a large range of ages, and if you are familiar with any of the ensemble’s songs, or if you Googled the first line of the clue, you would know that the first line and a half is from one of the band’s songs. “Double the pace” and “deciphering the arithmetic” simply means to double that “one direction” — the Laurentian Divide is where the watershed flows in two directions. Tricky, huh?

Line 4 — “on that note” gives a hint that the clue is about a song/music. “This ain’t no picnic” — clue writers are acknowledging that these clues are not easy, and this is also a hint that when you figure out the Medallion is at the Laurentian Divide, it is not by the picnic tables.

Line 1, “worried” — the Laurentian Divide rec area is technically located in Wuori Township.

Line 3 — figuring out these clues is a drill, or a workout, for your mind and the prize is located along the Fitness Loop. Line 4 — Not only is the loop at the very start of the trail system, but there is also a sign nearby encouraging visitors to take a few minutes to warm up before moving to more “vigorous calisthenics.”

Line 1, “looking” equals Lookout; “direction,” again, the two directions; “eh?” is a Canadian reference. According to a maker at the Divide: “The name ‘Laurentian’ is used because the granites forming the ridge are similar to, and were once thought to be related to, granites of the Laurentian Mountains in Quebec. Although this connection is no longer made, the name has remained.”

Line 2, “divided” equals the Laurentian Divide; “which way to go” — there are several paths converging near the Medallion’s hiding spot. “Intersection” both applies to the fork in the pathways and to the Divide’s location not far from the Highways 53 and 169 junction.

Line 3, “take it easy,” again a reference to the easy trail; “stay strong” alludes to the fitness obstacles on the loop; and “go with the flow” refers to how the Laurentian Divide separates the watershed of streams that flow north to the Arctic Ocean from the watershed of streams that flow southeast through the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.

Lines 1 and 2 — refers to the Laurentian Divide Salon and Spa in downtown Virginia, which, of course, shares its name with the Medallion’s location. While you may be sitting or reclining at the spa, the Laurentian Divide rec area is a more physically active place.

These two lines are what made Seaman sure the Medallion was at the rec area.

Line 3 — the Medallion is hiding along one of the Fitness Loop’s obstacles. While it is not exactly by the hurdles, it is not far from the hurdles sign, and based on Line 4, Medallion seekers must narrow their search down to one of the obstacles. Additionally, “mountainous” equals Lookout Mountain.

Lines 1 and 2, “leap” and “vault” — this is to get pursuers of the Medallion to the vault obstacle. The tree shielding the Medallion is but a stone’s throw away from the vaults.

Line 3 — this is meant as the most obvious hint to the Laurentian Divide.

Line 4, “number is doubled” refers back to Line 3’s reference to the number two. The Medallion is hidden in the middle of a tree with four converging trunks.

Although Seaman had already found the Medallion the previous day, she had not notified the newspaper yet and this clue ran in Sunday’s paper.

It was clearly evident Sunday morning by footprints in the snow that many people had also found the correct tree — just a little too late to claim the prize.