The Big Treasure Hunt

(Contest # 1)

Mountain Mike proudly announces that the latest edition of the "Mountain Mike Treasure Hunt" is now officially on for 2008!

Here are a couple clues to get you started:

1--Through the mail or on a blog
2--Something LA seldom does
3--Think about one of Mountain Mike's favorite blues singers.                                4--RBYB QQYK POPI YPRG IYKZ

Additional weekly clues will start 10-1-2008. As explained on the home page, we believe we have our server issues behind us, and will now be able to post clues in a timely fashion, on the first of each week.

Would you like to read about the elusive $10 bill, which, if you should find it, is worth $1,000.00!! So far this $10 bill has been hidden five times, and has been found four. It is out there right now! Would you like to read the story behind this $10 bill?

Would you like to read about some of the past winners?

If you are familiar with the greater Grand Rapids (MI) area, you know that one of our original sponsors, Eagle Security, flips its sign up-side-down until someone finds the treasure. ...Well, right now the sign is in the process of being flipped! The hunt is on!

Treasure Hunt 1992

Treasure Hunt 1999-2000

How does the treasure hunt work? Here's the scoop: Somewhere in the Greater Grand Rapids (MI) area, a special ten-dollar bill has now been hidden. Who ever finds that ten-dollar bill, and returns it to Mountain Mike, will receive a bank check for $1,000 (US currency)!

How will you know if you have found the special ten-dollar bill? Simple. Just match up this serial number:

G50645378B

The treasure is hidden in a safe location which is in plain sight, outside. The treasure can be retrieved without causing any damage or disruption to its host hiding spot. The treasure is not buried in the ground.

It's location will not be inaccessible by an average snowfall. No shovels are necessary. No digging! Please do not trespass, or damage in any way, any private property in search of the treasure.

It is hidden in a public place. (Please note that theaters, stores, churches, etc., are all private properties; therefore, the treasure will not be found in such locations.)

Searching for this treasure will not take you into unsafe areas, such as busy streets, large bodies of water, or other dangerous environments. If it looks dangerous, the treasure is not there. The person who finds the treasure will not have to do any damage to public or private property in his efforts.

Mountain Mike, Mike Carrier, and EVLUV Inc., will not be held responsible for any damages to private or public property, or for any personal injury sustained by a treasure hunt participant, or any one else during treasure searches.

Once the treasure has been found and removed, the successful hunter should make a copy of the treasure certificate (the special $ 10 bill), and send the copy (via surface postal service) to Purplehunt Contests, c/o Eagle Systems Inc., 1029 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids, MI. 49508. Do not send the original $10 bill for preliminary verification. I repeat--DO NOT SEND THE ORIGINAL. Keep the original for the time being, and send only the copy.

The successful treasure hunter should hang onto the actual certificate until verification of authenticity is established. To establish authenticity, the successful hunter should send with the copy the following info:

I --His/her name and mailing address.

2--Telephone number.

3 --The location of the treasure when found. And,

4--The date found.

Ready for some Clues?   Here we go...
Good Hunting!

The name, Purplehunt, is made up of two terms: purple, and hunt. If you are familiar with the history of cryptography, you know what "purple" signifies. We all know what "hunt" means. So, that is what Purplehunt is.

It is the launching pad for brain missiles. If you are bored with predictability, if you like to think that you can think, if you like a challenge, and if you are convinced that you can play with the big boys, give Purplehunt a go. Accept my challenge and see if you can beat me.

In the past, my treasure hunts have attracted followers from neighboring states. Along the way toward finding the treasure I will have several "mini-contests." In these cases, the clues for the treasure hunt will themselves be encrypted, and the first sleuth who solves these mini-contests will not only gain valuable information concerning the location of the treasure, but he will also win a nice prize for his effort.

In years past (with earlier contests) I placed the clues in various newspapers. People visiting this area from many different regions of the country would become players upon learning about the contest. They would then arrange to have the newspapers mailed to them all over the country.

I was told by a local reporter that one particular lady drove all the way from Milwaukee to Grand Rapids every week just to challenge me.

At any rate, even if you are not able to call West Michigan your home, give my treasure hunt a try. It will be good practice for you. Not only would you be eligible to win one of the mini-prizes, but you will be able to see how I think. That will be useful in solving future contests.

If you can solve even one clue, it just might serve as the key to cracking my mind, and solving one of my major contests in the future. So, regard your first Purplehunt contest as "Beat Mike 101." See if you can solve my clues, if not my contest.