Somewhere in that snow, $10,000 could be yours. Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt 2018 is here.

St. Paul Pioneer Press - 01-21-2018

All it takes is a little snow to spike Treasure Hunt fever.


LISA LEGGE - PIONEER PRESS STAFF WRITER

All it takes is a little snow to spike Treasure Hunt fever.

Now that we’ve finally got a fresh coat, we’re happy to say it’s nearly time for the annual Pioneer Press Treasure Hunt, presented by Fury Jeep.

At stake is a cool $10,000 prize.

Year 67 of the hunt begins with the first clue on Sunday, with enough daily clues to run through Feb. 1. The hunt could end anytime before that. With a few thousand people out there noodling clues and digging in the snow, who knows?

Since 1952 — when the publisher of the St. Paul Pioneer Press buried a tiny treasure chest telling the finder to report to the paper for a $1,100 prize — the hunt has challenged readers to solve daily clues and find the treasure, which in recent years has been akin to an acrylic hockey puck.

Legions of friendships have formed over the years — friends with a frozen obsession.

This week’s snow no doubt has hunters ready to pan for the prize. Some will even go out before the clues, scouring Ramsey County parks for any sign of the Clue Writer hiding the medallion, says longtime Treasure hunter Jesse Anibas, who runs a website about the hunt.

“They’ll say, ‘Oh, my gosh, it’s going to snow 8 inches today; I wonder if they’re hiding the medallion. Should I go look for footprints?” said Anibas, of White Bear Lake. His website soon will get more views, and sales of his book on Treasure Hunt history will spike. A similar book profiling Ramsey County parks for huntability likely will see the same surge in interest.

The first clue is actually available Saturday, Jan. 20, in the early Sunday edition of the Pioneer Press, which hits newsstands mid-morning. The rest of the clues are available about 11:30 nightly at TwinCities.com and on Facebook at facebook.com/PPtreasurehunt.