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2020 THD Summer Meltdown Hunt

Submitted by Administrator on
Ok... It's getting close! Today's "warmup clue" is information for everybody to be aware of. The first official clue will be posted on this group board tomorrow morning at 10:00am as will subsequent clues.
If you have any questions about the hunt, now is the time to ask!
Donations to the prize pool will remain open until the 4th clue is released. Currently the prize pool remains at $250 plus the delicious goody basket.
 
**Summer Meltdown Treasure Hunt Update**
Important Information
Given the current fire conditions in our 5-county search area along with evacuation orders and air quality issues, we’ve made the decision to postpone the hunt again. As we stated in the hunt announcement, common sense and safety are top concerns for all of us. It is just common sense to postpone this hunt for the benefit and safety of all.
Clackamas County in its entirety is under some level of evacuation notice. Parts of Washington County reaching into Yamhill County also have evacuation notices. Multnomah County has been spared the evacuation notices so far, but Clark County has been having fire issues with off-and-on local evacuation orders.
It is nearly impossible to determine when it will be safe to start the hunt, but the weather looks like it will be changing next week which will help both fire and air quality issues, and if history is any indicator we should still be able to do this during the month of September.
Neal has records of all donations that have been made to the prize pool (Currently $270 + Goodie basket) and will maintain that until we are able to safely start and conclude this treasure hunt. It will happen!!
Any Questions?
September 16 Update:
 
Treasure Hunt Update:
First let me say that like all of you, our hearts go out to everyone who has been displaced by these fires, lost property, or worse yet, been injured or lost their life. This is a very difficult time for all of us. Who could have predicted something like this?
As for the Summer Meltdown Treasure Hunt, it is still ready to go and will happen! However, with various closures, warnings, and restrictions in place, including the partial closing of the I-5 bridge, the hunt will be postponed until further notice. We will continue to monitor conditions and closures and will start the hunt when it is safe and access to most areas is open again. If I were to guess - and it's only a guess at this point - I would guess that the first part (first week?) of October is when we'll be able to start the hunt. But only time will tell. We will keep updating everybody as information becomes available. October is typically a nice month and I'm excited to get this hunt going when we can!
With that said, if anybody who donated to the prize pool would like a refund, please contact me via FB Messenger and I will make that happen.
Please remember that this is not the forum for opinions or political discussions about the fires; there are plenty of other places for those types of discussions.
Have a great day, and keep your brains ready to go because I think we've got a good hunt ready for you when the time is right!
 
Warmup Clue September 7
 
Though downtoan Portland is in play,
We ask you all to stay away.
The prize you seek will not be there,
But farther out because we care.
 
Warmup Clue 2 October 5
 
There's no way to know
Where protests will go,
But they seem to be mostly at night.
Keep safety in mind,
Don't get into a bind,
ANd please search only in daylight.
Hunt Information
Dates
Scheduled Dates
Thursday, October 8, 2020
Find Date
Monday, October 19, 2020
Finders
Name
Kevin Klinger
Prize
Maximum Prize
$250 plus goodie basket
Awarded Prize
$250 plus goodie basket
Location
General Location
Cook Park, Tigard, OR
Pinpointed Location
Near the boat ramp
Concealer
In a small fallen western red cedar tree

45.393709, -122.772319

Clues
Clue 1
Published Date
Wednesday, October 7, 2020, 7:00 PM
Outside, across a bridge (or not)
In an area that’s green
Be careful not to trample
Or make an ugly scene
Here before you may have been
If so, you’ll have a ball
Ready, set, get hunting!
And, of course, good luck to all!
The official meaning of the clue.
Introductory clue. It pays homage to the Longview Daily News treasure hunts and their notoriously predictable and vague early clues (it’s outside, you might have to cross a bridge, you may have been here before, it’s somewhere green...).
Bonus points for anyone who solved “to all” as an early hint to “Tual”atin.
Fun fact: The hunt was supposed to start on 9/8. Cook Park is at Tualatin River mile marker 9.8.
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Clue 2
Published Date
Thursday, October 8, 2020, 7:00 PM
Tired of COVID? Don’t despair
The devoted hunter will get some fresh air
Don your mask and feel the breeze
Get out among the fields and trees
The official meaning of the clue.
This clue contains references to the item hidden and its hiding place -- a tree-shaped air freshener hidden in a forested park with sports fields.
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Clue 3
Published Date
Friday, October 9, 2020, 7:00 PM
To narrow down the huntin’ grounds
So you can venture forth
And find the niche, ya wanna
Keep this to yer north
The official meaning of the clue.
Nch’i-Wana (niche, ya wanna) is a native name for the Columbia River. The treasure is hidden south of the Columbia River (keep it to your north).
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Clue 4
Published Date
Saturday, October 10, 2020, 7:00 PM
Clickety-clack, are you on the right track?
Is it yellow, blue, green or red?
If you’re wise, you’ll find beauty
And maybe some doodie
Don’t let us mess with your head!
The official meaning of the clue.
Beauty = Butte E, a reference to East Butte, an early name for the Tigard area. The historic Red Electric Line used the track that runs between the Durham off-leash park (doodie) and Cook Park. Don’t be caught up by the red herrings for Clackamas, MAX lines or other buttes to the east.
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Clue 5
Published Date
Sunday, October 11, 2020, 7:00 PM
Our friends in St. Paul
Really know how to play
Of an eponymous freeway
West you should stay
The official meaning of the clue.
St. Paul, MN is home to an annual treasure hunt that has thousands of hunters searching for a medallion worth $10,000. I-5 through North Portland was once known as the Minnesota Freeway because it replaced Minnesota Avenue. Stay west of I-5
Our Thoughts
Sweet. A 1500-mile nod of the hat!
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Clue 6
Published Date
Monday, October 12, 2020, 7:00 PM
If you look up as you’re hunting
Like a president, it stands tall
Within our chosen county
It’s the highest of them all
The official meaning of the clue.
Lincoln Tower is the tallest building in Washington County (our chosen hiding place).
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Clue 7
Published Date
Tuesday, October 13, 2020, 7:00 PM
Boats and trains and bikes and feet
All nearby the treasure meet
If you’re not sure which way to go
Ask Tiki Redbug, don’t go with the flow
The official meaning of the clue.
References the area where the Tualatin River, railroad tracks, Fanno Creek Greenway trail and Tualatin River Greenway trail all meet.
“Ask Tiki Redbug” = Ki-a-Kuts Bridge (anagram)
Don’t go downstream from the bridge.
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Clue 8
Published Date
Wednesday, October 14, 2020, 7:00 PM
It’s good to be first
Unless you’re the worst
Clean up your act
89 > 72
The official meaning of the clue.
In 1989, the Tualatin River was the first river in Oregon to exceed the overall pollution limits established by the Clean Water Act of 1972.
From Ki-a-Kuts Bridge, head upstream along the Tualatin River (not Fanno Creek).
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Clue 9
Published Date
Thursday, October 15, 2020, 7:00 PM
Though it started rather modestly
Expansion was in store
To find the year in question
Check out the local lore

This year and street together
Will get you to the end
Determine where it leads you
And you’ll be close, my friend
The official meaning of the clue.
“Store” and “Check out” are references to the original Tigard general store, which expanded and moved to a new location in 1892. 92nd Avenue leads you into Cook Park.
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Clue 10
Published Date
Friday, October 16, 2020, 7:00 PM
Clue 9.8 (10/17)

If you’re feeling deflated
This should lift your spirits
Catch my drift?

Clue 10: (10/18)

Say hello to Dolly
Sitting in her happy place
For those in search of treasure
Seek a different parking space
The official meaning of the clue.
Clue 9.8

Cook Park is at Tualatin River Mile 9.8, as noted on a sign near the boat launch. 9.8 is also a reference to Earth’s gravity. The annual Tigard Hot Air Balloon Festival is held at Cook Park. “Catch my drift” is a reference to fishing, hot air balloons and the air freshener.

Clue 10

A park bench overlooking the river near Picnic Shelter #3 has a plaque that reads: “My happy place. Lee (Dolly) Gray” The treasure is hidden on the opposite side of the boat ramp parking area, close to the first parking space on the right as you enter the lot.
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Clue 11
Thuja plicata, hakuna matata!
The official meaning of the clue.
Thuja Plicata is the scientific name for Western Red Cedar. Hakuna Matata means “no more worries.” The treasure is hidden in a small western red cedar.
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Clue 12
Still stumped?
Count the rings
And you’ll be
Over the hump
The official meaning of the clue.
You can count the rings on the fir tree stump near a traffic hump at the entrance to the boat launch area. If you’re there, you’re standing close to the tree in which the treasure is hidden.
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Clue 13
A fresh-scented bauble hangs in a tree
In Cook Park, just waiting for you to set free
Down by the boat ramp, near a felled giant
Placed there by Petersen, Dietzes and Bryant
Congrats to the finder
Our hunt is now done
We hope you enjoyed it
And had lots of fun!
The official meaning of the clue.
X marks the spot
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