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2003

The Making of the TMK Mock Hunt

Submitted by ThoseMedallingKids on

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.

Allison Wonderland 2003 Mock Hunt Kickoff

Submitted by Allison Wonderland on
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It's finally been determined that the 4th Annual Mock Hunt will start this year on Saturday, March 8th with the release of the first of 12 clues. The clues will be released once per day at 6pm. This year's prize is still being determined, but it's likely to include some as yet undertermined cash amount as well as a special trophy.

The focus of this year's hunt will be on offering clues that will guide a clever person right to the treasure (as opposed to vague, unsolvable clues that only put you in the right park, and not necessarily anywhere near the treasure).

The treasure will be hidden on public property in St. Paul. It will not be underground, in a tree, inside things that use electricity, at the edge of a cliff, on top of buildings, or anywhere else that may give you second thoughts about how wise it is to go there. Depending on the weather, it may be under some snow, but a careful analysis of the clues should guide you right to it with a minimal amount of digging needed.

For the release of the first clue, we'll be having a gathering at Fabulous Fern's in St. Paul on Selby and Western starting around 4pm in the bar area.

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Medallion found

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on
Body
By BILL GARDNER and SCOTT MCFETRIDGE | bgardner@pioneerpress.com and smcfetridge@pioneerpress.com| Pioneer PressIt's been a part of winter for 52 year

2003 Rehash Bash at Como Park

Submitted by Joe Medallion (not verified) on
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Sunday, February 2, 2003
Como Park
West Picnic Grounds
12:00pm

The food will be set up in the gazebo, and depending on the weather, we'll also have a fire going down in one of the fire pits. It all starts around noon and goes until whenever people decide to leave. Everyone is invited and it's a potluck, so grab some munchies or something to drink to bring if you haven't already prepared anything. Or if you don't have time, show up anyway as there should be plenty of food regardless.

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Predig Gig 2003 at McGovern's

Submitted by Terry on

Patrick McGovern's - January 18th, 2003

The Cooler Crew has gathered at Patrick McGovern's to celebrate the beginning of the new Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt for each of the last five years. The celebration is always filled with the gathering of seasoned and newbie hunters, many laughs, reminisces of previous hunts, predictions of where the medallion might be hidden, who will find it, when the prized medallion will be found, and as the evening comes to an end, the reading of the first clue.

The evening of January 18th brought medallion finder hopefuls together with a few previous finders in the basement level of Patrick McGovern's. We were about forty in number. Some came and spent the entire evening. Others came early and had to leave. There were also hunters that arrived later and stayed until after Me2, Ares and Those Medalling Kids brought the paper back from the Pioneer Press. Me2 read the first clue for the crowd of hunters and the Crew slowly dissipated and went home to noodle that clue.

Mom and Dad had this year's version of the Cooler Crew commemorative buttons ready in a choice of six colors. Marley King and Artemis the Huntress had coordinating bumper stickers. Ares brought business cards with the site URLs for the People's Forum message boards and the Cooler Crew site. Me2 brought a guest book for everyone to sign. So much talent and great ideas!

It's always heart-warming to see old friends and meet new Cooler Crew members who share the same obsession of hunting for a little blue puck in the middle of winter - snow or no snow. There can be no better way to begin this yearly obsession than to share the laughter, the whooping, the din of conversation and the joy of greeting hunters as they arrive.

The 2003 Winter Carnival Medallion Hunt has begun.

Coolerheads will Prevail!!!!

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