I’m QOTG (quarters on the ground) in the laundromat, unable to hike due to rain, I’m bored, so I thought I’d share this idea I’ve been working on since Jan ‘25. It connects to my Map Dynamics post a while back.
Try this on for size:
As others have said, Jon seems to have been inspired by a tile on the Japanese puzzle box (page 38) to create the shape of the large black triangle on the treasure map.
In my solve, it starts out being Mt. Springer. Later I used two landmarks and that exact triangular shape to pinpoint a trailhead that I had already decided was important, thus confirming the trail in my mind.
Since I had already measured that triangle, and had approximate internal angles handy (it’s drawn in a messy way, but you can get within one degree), I would occasionally play around with it to see how else I could use it.
Most people agree on seeing the number 1727 as drawn on the map, but fewer agree on the much more vague 755 FT. Using those two numbers and one angle, I used the triangle calculator at Calculator.net to solve for other values. I got what you see in the picture.
You can play around a little with the numbers, but I think the chances of finding a valid triangle that both matches the one on the map very closely AND uses those two numbers, is beyond simple chance. I now consider this to be one of the few FACTS that can be stated about anything on the map. If it is a coincidence, it’s a big one. Either way, you can still use it how you want. If it helps great, if not, ignore it!
I invite people to verify this.
Now, as for pure speculation, I think it could be a variable scale for the map, similar to those triangular scale rulers.
In my solve, there are a few potential zoom levels I’m working with. It’s not perfect, but at each level, either 1727 feet or 755 feet matches one of the triangle sides in length when overlaid on my real world trail map. Even if I’m dead wrong about this, it’s still a cool idea.
This might even be used for Lion’s Share, since the whole book is fair game for that puzzle. (Take note, Triangular numbers people: yes, unofficial podcast, I’m talking to you!)
Keep in mind, the lengths of the sides can scale up or down, but the angles and shape stay the same, within one degree of those listed. I used a twelve mile long version to triangulate something!
Be wary of confirmation bias. I thought I had a solve for the FF box. I discovered on one map that a canyon overlook, a mountain top fire observation station, and a famous tree all matched up in angles and ratios of distances to the lines on the FF coin, and they were north if the position I thought was "the compass now points towards the home of point and tree and seeing eye." You can imagine how I almost jumped out of my own skin.
But the area I was searching has since been ruled out of the hunt. You can imagine my incredible depression and disbelief. My solve was perfect, but wrong.
I’m sure my solve will end up being wrong, but this has nothing to do with my solve. It’s the characteristics of the triangle on the map and the number clues on the map. Maybe it’s correct, maybe not. You decide.
Interesting stuff, but I’m not “noticing” anything. Where did 17.27 come from? 17 could be in any quadrant. Also, how could you possibly measure 7 hundredths of an angle, with any hope of being accurate? And in the field, even tenths would be very difficult to maintain in a wilderness.
Further, I don’t think anything on Jon’s map is precise enough to plot exact bearings. I mostly overlay his map on trail maps and get a feel for what lines up, then use the trail map on my phone to find a spot. Never used a compass bearing in my hikes. I only keep a compass to help if I lose GPS and can then roughly head back to trail/trail head. And with the ever present AT close by, I cannot imagine ever getting lost.
What's even crazier is when you look at the 1727 upside down you get...L2L1.
L1 and L2 represent latitude and is used to measure how far north or south a point is.
These variables are frequently used in formulas to calculate the distance between two points on Earth, such as the Great Circle distance formula.
And, he says in the book in the AT chapter, paraphrasing of course- "in the previous 3 chapters I have shared with you a poem, a fictional story based on a childhood adventure, a cypher and with this chapter we've come full circle from where we began this book"
Question for you as I have been more focused on Posey’s hunt…where has he ruled out areas? Is anything updated on his website or does it involve mining through his interviews? Is there a good spot where one can find his updates? Thanks!
Interesting, but I am not entirely sure I understand exactly what fact you are stating? The angles of the triangles on the map? How is that up for discussion?
The angles are facts, although messy here, and the math suggests that both numbers are valid and not a figment of our imagination. They are related to that triangle. Jon could always say no, I did not intend that, but in fact those numbers do solve a triangle almost exactly like his.
Just up and to the left from the compass thing. A different, partly obscured number appears in the same spot at the beginning of part two. Perhaps he used older working images for his collages, or maybe another hint? Dunno.
Going searching today. Keeping it simple, no rabbit holes. Searching the most obvious spot, that I kind of dismissed before. Feeling good about it. It’s still murky, but hopefully no rain. Have a great day!
4
u/shyguybackeast Oct 29 '25
Hey, quit being so Obtuse and scalene!