2020 Joe's Marble Medallion Run

Mostly an introductory clue. Thanks to Jason for hosting our last hunt, an explanation of what we’re playing for.
The one phrase here is “take to the bank”. The treasure is fairly close to the banks of the Willamette. Also, the eventual location of the medallion is Trolley Trail, a rail-to-trail initiative. These initiatives were aided by a 1983 law allowing for “railbanking”, protecting the property from claims from adjacent owners to preserve it for public use. Also a side note for drunk and dance (referencing Clue 8).

A clue pointing to Portland’s two arboretums, of which Portland conducts stewardship of trees. Hoyt Arboretum is on land originally claimed by Eli and Anna Stewart (stewardship). The “other” arboretum is Columbia Children’s Arboretum, located close to Columbia Slough (sluff). Columbia Children’s Arboretum is notable for its GROW (grows dear) program, where students sought to plant a tree for every state in the union.
As noted, the journey matters more for Hoyt Arboretum. This is a reference to the Washington Park MAX station (as the medallion is hidden 5 feet from the MAX line).
The concept matters more for CCA- this is a reference to the Trees of the States, which will be of great help in deciphering Clue 3.
The destination is not mentioned for either arboretum.

The word motto comes from the Latin word muttus, “to grunt”. These are all or portions of four state mottos:
Vermont: “May the Fourteenth Star Shine Bright”
West Virginia “Mountaineers Are Always Free”
New York: “Excelsior”
Wisconsin: “Forward”
All of these states have a common tree as their state tree: the Sugar Maple. Acer Saccarum will be the key to decode Clue 7. SE Maple Street in Oak Grove crosses Trolley Trail as “key to the way forward”. There are also several state birds and other state trees along Trolley Trail, including from Oregon, Idaho and California and Clue 13 would have made reference to a bear statue made out of sequoia (Eureka- I have found it!)
Additionally, by “acing” the final line, you get Wisconsin. The treasure is in Milwaukie.
Note” right of way” hidden within the clue.

On May 27, I donated $18.64 to the COVID-19 Oregon Musician’s Relief Fund. This was their relief song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDekA8Bqc_0
It was, at the time (and still was as the writing of this explanation) the top google result for “Portland relief song”).
The clue tells you that there ain’t no mountain high enough. Dispel that, because it’s at a very low elevation.
But there is much more in this clue. Króna is the Icelandic currency; their country is Ísland in their own language. Iranian currency is the rial. Put together, you can get “island rail”, as the treasure is located in the Island Station neighborhood of Milwaukie. The interurban trolley station referenced throughout the clues was likely in the same place as the art installation of clue 12.
If you noticed that Króna was taken to 3 decimals, that’s not a mistake. This is an obscure hint, but converting that to RGB color codes gives you orange- the treasure is hidden near the Orange MAX line.
And finally, if you google enough, you’ll find the specific donation that I gave to the Musician’s relief fund. It was given under the name “Sugar Maple”, and it was directed specifically to the fundraiser Mia McLaughlin. The treasure is located near McLoughlin Road.
https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/covid-19-oregon-musicians-relief-fund1/miamclaughlin

This comes from the George Strait song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ioPa1URjZ_Y
Note the change in tenses. The first two lines reference a time when Oregon was underwater (on the continental shelf). At this time, the coastline was probably somewhere in Idaho. This was the Eocene period. Geological evidence indicates that the Waverly Heights Basalt, which is prominent in the eastern bank of the Willamette in Milwaukie, dates to the Eocene period. This is most clear on Elk Rock Island.
The present tense portion is much more straightforward. The treasure is not on the riverfront (don’t buy that) but it’s a “golden start”. The beginning of the Trolley Trail is in Milwaukie’s Riverfront Park.
Additionally, Strait = linear park.

The first two ½ lines (rebellious southeastern land, volunteers, snow, rue, game) are all references to the book series The Hunger Games. In the books, District 11 was a district in the Southeast of Panem that started a rebellion against the oppressive rule of President Snow, with the memory of Hunger Games participant Rue as a motivating factor.
Add ten to District 11, and you get District 21, which represents parts of Portland, Milwaukie, and Oak Grove. The steps to the Senate in the Oregon Capitol Building are called the Grand Stairs.
https://ballotpedia.org/Oregon_State_Senate_District_21
Governor Kate Brown represented District 21 in the Oregon State Senate from 1997-2009.
Additionally, the medallion is in SE.

As mentioned above, AcerSaccarum is the key to decode this Vigenere cipher. New York, Vermont, West Virginia and Wisconsin are the 11th, 14th, 30th and 35thstates to join the United States, and Maple is sweet.
For the clue itself, there are two possible interpretations, both which shed light on the location. Both of them call upon the unique circumstances of the spring and COVID-19.
It could be (I) for incomplete, as aside from Pass/Fail, it was the only grade that teachers could give in Oregon high schools. The Trolley Trail is one part of a larger trail system in progress, which hopes to create a 20 mile loop through Portland, Milwaukie, Gladstone, Oregon City, and Milwaukie.
Many colleges offered Pass/No Credit grading during this semester. This interpretation would lead you to avoid Portland Parks & Recreation land for North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District (NCPRD) land.

This clue references the Friar’s (fryer) Club of Milwaukie.
http://milwaukiemuseum.com/elk-rock-island/
There is conflicting evidence on the exact location of the Friar’s Club, but much of it centers on Elk Rock Island. The club was notorious for illicit gambling, and it suffered a fire in 1916. Today, the island does have a beach that is sometimes used for sunbathing (get you burnt) – though this clue also indicates that if you actually go to Elk Rock Island, you’ll get burnt by not finding the medallion.
The available evidence also indicates that most of the residents of Milwaukie were not exactly fond of this establishment, but that many attendees were from Portland, and arrived by the trolley – the Portland Interurban railway. That is why the clue guides you to focus on the passengers in the end.
Note the “E” “R” and “I” at the start of the last three lines.

This clue references the Great Portland Railroad Race.
https://pamplinmedia.com/sb/75-features/202358-the-great-portland-railroad-race
Two rival groups, one on the east side, one on the west side, raced for a government grant by creating 20 miles of track. The East side beat the West side, with the completion of the race in New Era, Oregon. Both companies were named the Oregon Central Railway Company.
Today, while not the exact same line as the east side line, the Trolley Trail lies on the line of the East Side Railway Company, which became the Portland Traction Company. The Trail is repurposed right-of-way from that streetcar line.
Note the “Or Central” in the last two lines.

This clue references the ship “Lot Whitcomb”.
https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/downloads/w0892c48r
Lot Whitcomb made a donation land claim on much of current-day Milwaukie, including the land on which the treasure is hidden. Whitcomb was a postmaster and entrepreneur. Two of his efforts are important here.
He established the Western Star newspaper (Extra! Extra! Read all about it!).
But most of the clue deals with the steamer Lot Whitcomb. Whitcomb’s steamer was integral in early economy of Milwaukie, and as a test of it’s strength, it defeated the ocean steamer Goliah (giant) in 1851 in a race from Astoria to Portland. The history also indicates that it towed the bark Success.
However, this ship was too expensive to operate, so she was sold to a company in California who ran her until 1868 on the Sacramento River...incidentally named Annie Abernathy. Sorry! J

This clue references “In the Heights”, Lin Manuel Miranda’s winner of four Tony Awards. If you’ve located the Trolley Trail, and then if you head toward Milwaukie Heights, you’ll be among public art installations (wooden museum). Too far south later in the clue also indicates that you should head almost “in the heights” – the treasure is located just feet from the boundary of Milwaukie proper and Milwaukie Heights.
https://trimet.org/publicart/orangeline.htm
These art installations were created by artists who specialized in wood, and made sculptures out of trees removed in the construction of Trolley Trail. One of those sculptures is “At Grandmother’s House” (grammy’s place). Side note: Gramma’s Corner was not intentional misdirection…
https://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/2015/04/grandmother_holding_rabbit_fea.html
And this picture made me say, “Awwww.” J

This clue references the Red Hot Chill Peppers’ hit song, “Under the Bridge”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwlogyj7nFE
Under the bridge at the intersection of the MAX line and McLoughlin is a public art installation, “Flow Zone”.
https://faulders-studio.com/FLOW-ZONE
This clue narrows the search down to Milwaukie Bay Park, Elk Rock Island Park, Spring Park Natural Area, Trolley Trail and the baseball/softball fields.
There are about 2000 botts as part of the installation. The medallion is hidden about 1750 feet from the near end of the installation, and about 2,475 feet from the far end of the installation.