My first trip BOTG was in April of 2025. Just a few weeks after the launch of the treasure hunt, I found myself packing my bags to head west—Montana, to be precise. The trip proved fruitful in the sense that it gave me a deeper perspective of what Justin Posey experiences while outdoors and insights into where he grew up. If you’ve never been out west, it’s hard to comprehend just how vast and beautiful it truly is. The landscape is breathtaking and unapologetically unforgiving. It demands your attention, much like a parent delivering a serious lesson to a child, yet simultaneously gives back far more than it takes.
The initial trip was primarily reconnaissance, sprinkled with a few dubious solves. My goal wasn’t necessarily to uncover treasure immediately but rather to get firsthand experience with the locations scribbled in my notebook. I wanted to stand within the storylines from Justin’s book, Beyond The Map’s Edge. Of course, stumbling upon treasure would have been a welcome surprise. Thanks to a curse gifted from my military career, I can subdue my feelings or ambitions to the point of near numbness. This trait also allows me to maintain laser focus, filtering out everything except what my squirrel brain deems important at any given moment.
With this first trip taking place in April, many roads and trails were still closed due to seasonal closures. I took every opportunity to stop, snap photos, jot down notes, and immerse myself in the surroundings. My stops included the Pioneer Mountains, Grasshopper Creek, the Post Office, Gracie’s Grail, Dillon in general, and a handful of other notable sites. At lower elevations, most of the snow had already melted, but attempts to hike higher up quickly proved impossible, with snow reaching waist-high depths. Taking this as a sign, I focused my explorations at lower elevations, marking each visited location carefully in my notebook.
Eventually, it was time to return home. The 26-hour drive provided plenty of time for reflection and absorbing everything I’d learned. Once home, I began preparing for the next trip by analyzing my notes, developing new solves, and even creating some specialized technology to accompany me on future hunts. Thus, “Nina” was born—a device designed specifically for detecting signals and other tech-related purposes best kept secret. The device takes its name from Nina, a character from the movie Elevation, who built a gadget capable of sensing nearby “Reapers.” If you haven’t seen it, it’s definitely worth a watch.
As I write this, I’m packing up the truck, preparing to leave this evening for another adventure. I’ve planned two to three weeks for this next treasure hunt. With my truck rigged like the starship, I’ll balance working during the day with treasure hunting in the early mornings and evenings, much like a nomad roaming the wilderness. Perhaps the truck deserves its own name—”Marauder” sounds fitting. After all, what worthy mechanical vessel doesn’t have its own name?
The truck is equipped with enough provisions to make even the most seasoned traveler of the Bozeman Trail envious. It’s also rigged up with Nina, a Reaper Node, Reaper Vision, SDR, and numerous other decentralized gadgets better left unmentioned, along with maps, my e-bike, and all the essential gear I wished I’d had during my first expedition.
This trip will cover several locations across:
- Montana
- Wyoming
- Idaho
Two locations, plus an additional site, will receive most of my focus during this journey. I plan to visit each based on the probability measured by my own bias.
While BOTG, I’ll be sharing updates on my Instagram and X accounts, so follow along if you’re interested—you might even get to see Nina in action.
X Account: https://x.com/uscommsnerd
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejustingreer/