2001 Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt

Go through the cold and prepare to be bold,
Or you won't find the secret item.
Our beloved St. Paul is the place for gold;
Dig elsewhere and you'll search ad infinitum.

Last year at Newell our fate was most cruel;
Unfortunately the game ended too soon.
Come now and prepare for a much tougher duel;
Keep on your toes or you'll hunt until June.

There's no need to destroy as you deploy
For the hunt in our wonderful town.
Golf courses and statues you must not annoy,
And please steer clear of all private ground.

Circular thinking can be one way of linking
To the treasure that lies out of view.
Your bank account won't be shrinking
If you can figure out this clue.

East and west are part of our test,
Though only one is the proper place.
If this choice leaves you depressed,
Playing might put a smile on your face.

A man of steel cannot be real,
But another has plenty of mettle.
Look for his name around our deal,
And you'll be in very fine fettle.

To escape the herd find a peaceful bird
Somewhere deep in the snow.
Our treasure is boxed inside the word,
And that's what you need to know.

The prize is at a place with lots of space
Where riding around can be fun
But you'll have to move off base
If you hope to be the victorious one

Memory lane, we need hardly explain,
Is the busiest street of all
Think of traveling the old way again
And you might make a big haul

Adding hot cocoa to a cup of mocha
Creates a stirring combination;
Put them together and you'll evoke a
Potentially lucrative location.

Vanished tracks in the snow will help you go
To the spot where the treasure lies waiting.
Proceed toward shelter from the opening below,
And with luck you'll soon be celebrating.

Going just halfway isn't good, they say,
But we think you should stay near the middle.
Do this and you'll have a picnic today
As you try to decipher this riddle.

Thinking in twos could yield good news,
So look for objects in pairs.
Double down is a sight you shouldn't lose,
Because our prize isn't far from there.

Follow a straight line and you'll do just fine
In discovering where treasure abounds
The line goes southeast from two slides to a sign
For Como Park's West Picnic Grounds

Ninety paces or so from the slides where kids go
You'll find two picnic tables close together
Pick a spot nearby to dig in the snow
And your life could soon change for the better!