Updated August 21, 2025
In July 2025, I set out on a week-long BOTG recon trip to Montana. The objective was to gather intel and check out a solid solve I had in mind. The trip was a success—minus coming home with the treasure… but that was to be expected, right? Needless to say, the trip was awesome nonetheless. I’ll keep my solves to myself (for now) and just go over the trip in general. This will be a working journal of the trip, so be sure to check back for updates.
Sawtooth Lake
Fast forward to August 8, 2025, and I headed back to Montana with more intel, fresh perspective, and a renewed sense of adventure. The first stop on my list was Sawtooth Mountain—more specifically, Sawtooth Lake. My personal goal was to reach the top of the trail and take in all that the lake and mountains had to offer. The hike turned out to be longer than I had anticipated, but the soreness that followed was well worth the treat.
Sawtooth Lake holds a history still visible to hikers and anglers today. A converted military plane, tasked with spraying chemicals to combat an invasive species, crashed into the side of the mountain (to the right in the photo below). The wreckage remains, silently telling the story of one man and his aircraft. Chemicals from the crash leaked into the lake, but over time, nature filtered them out, restoring the water to a crystal-clear state. The lake has since been stocked with Golden Trout and is now a sought-after destination for anglers who hike there almost daily.
Sawtooth Lake and Trail in Justin’s book reads almost like a guide on what not to do. Better yet, it invites you to visit the location and experience Montana properly, while reminding you how quickly things can go wrong. Be prepared, have a plan, and play it smart.
Trail Troubles
August 9, 2025 – A chime from the truck’s dashboard caught my attention. The tire pressure warning light indicated that my right rear tire was low. Watching the pressure drop slowly, I knew something was wrong. Being two thousand miles from home and forty minutes from the nearest town, this was a bad feeling.
I pulled over to find that something had punctured my tire. As I located the source of a faint hissing noise, I was reminded—rather inconveniently—that I had forgotten to pack my tire repair kit.
With no other option, I swapped the damaged tire for the spare. Time was lost, but wisdom was gained. I’m a glass-half-full kind of man, and the lesson learned here is that even when you think you’re prepared, being ready for the unknown is just as important. I quickly changed the tire and immediately headed back into town for a repair kit.
Bakers Hole / Bakers Hole Campground
August 10, 2025 – The next stop on my list was Baker’s Hole Campground. This was where Justin spent his time when he wasn’t searching Western Yellowstone. The location also carries significant weight in my calculations, as it’s where Brandon would meet up with Justin before they headed out to search. It served as Justin’s base camp and the place where he parked his trailer.
I have to say, Baker’s Hole feels almost sacred. During the day, the Madison River flows steadily, watching over all who pass by. In the mornings, it puts on a show for those willing to venture out as the sun rises. I had planned to follow through with a solve, but instead found myself standing in one spot for 30 minutes, missing my targeted window. I finally began my search—only after the Madison River seemed to give me permission.
There are plenty of secrets shared only with those who visit.
The Gallatin River
August 11, 2025 – A perfect location and a short two-hour trip from Baker’s Hole Campground. The Gallatin River is only mentioned in the book once but has been on my list since the beginning of the hunt. The Gallatin is a famous fly fishing location just north of Yellowstone. Highway (WHY) 191 is riddled with turn outs where I could put in and do some fishing when I needed time to think.
The location being just off of WHY 191, traffic can be heavy but the road noise is quickly tucked behind the flow of the river. I spent a lot of time sitting down on the river bank as I worked through internal debate about the location.
Red Cliff Campground
August 11, 2025 – Even while treasure hunting, I still need to “adult” (work). Red Cliff Campground doesn’t speak much to me beyond offering incredible views along the Gallatin River on the way toward Big Sky. Still, it made for a great base camp for the night while I got some work done. The area is full of interesting rock outcroppings, and locals say the surrounding mountains are rich with fossils.
It was the perfect time to kick back and work while listening to the audiobook Rascal by Sterling North in the background. Having been a software engineer for nearly two decades, I appreciated how this place provided the perfect setting to get “locked in” — writing code and tracking down bugs with ease, something that’s becoming rarer in recent years.
The Slip Transporter
August 12, 2025 – I used to think that an e-bike was a waste of money. I associated them and their riders with the “Do you CrossFit, Bro?” stereotype. That was until a good buddy of mine gave me the opportunity to try one out. At the time, I thought it might make for a cool gift for my children. But then… I took the bike out on my next hunting trip and was blown away! I needed this. I had been missing the ability to go farther and faster.
I packed the bike for this journey, thinking it could help me travel more quickly on the way back from searching. Boy, was I wrong. In my experience so far (outside of designated off-road trails), e-bikes are prohibited on many trails and paths. I’ve now retired the e-bike to campground duties—running to the fee station or making my rounds to “camper watch.”
Baker’s Hole Campground (I’m BACK!)
August 13, 2025 – After spending two days farther north, Baker’s Hole Campground kept nagging at the back of my mind. I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was forgetting something—walking past something I had seen but hadn’t truly registered. I spent the night here once again and rose in the morning to visit the Madison River as the sun climbed from behind the distant mountains.
Needing a break from the hunt and some time to focus on work, I decided to head into West Yellowstone for better cell service and to give Starlink a rest.
Black Sand Spring
August 13, 2025 – While in West Yellowstone, I decided it would be a good break to visit the Gallatin National Forest on the south side of the city limits. Driving past the old airport, I turned into the National Forest. Once on the gravel road, I pulled over to check my maps and find a spot to set up for lunch. Enter stage: Black Sand Spring.
Black Sand Spring is a cold spring just south of West Yellowstone that offers some amazing scenery. The area is day-use only but includes a nice fire ring and a small roundabout. It whispers of a time when it may have been a larger recreation area. The surroundings are dotted with what appear to be old campsites and even a small wildlife waterhole.
If you’re looking for a peaceful place to spend the day and wade in crystal-clear spring water—calf-deep at most—this spot is highly recommended. It’s easy to get to and fully accessible by car.
Howard Spring Wayside
August 13, 2025 – After lunch, I decided to head a bit farther west to check out a spring just over the Montana boundary. About 15 minutes later, I found Howard Spring Wayside. This location isn’t mentioned anywhere in the book, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned about being in this area, it’s to look for interesting names on the map and just go see them.
Howard Spring Wayside is a small rest stop and picnic area just across the border into Idaho. The stop was chosen purely by scanning the map for names that caught my eye—nothing more. However, if this is what a rest stop has to offer in Idaho, I may just have to plan a trip farther down the road.
West Yellowstone
August 13, 2025 – West Yellowstone is the town at the west gate of Yellowstone National Park. Before traveling here, I thought “West Yellowstone” simply referred to the western side of the park. For a guy who spent years in the Active Army, graduated from one of the hardest schools to earn my B4 qualifier, started two businesses, and worked as a software engineer for two decades, I’m being humbled by just how much I don’t know about the West.
During a walking tour, my heart skipped a beat when I stumbled upon something unexpected. In a very open yet hidden section of the city, a green cap in the ground caught my eye. Thinking it was trash, I bent down to pick it up—and to my surprise, I pulled out a vial containing rolled-up pieces of paper and a small trinket. It turned out to be someone else’s treasure of sorts.
Yellowstone Airport
August 13, 2025 – Trying to save money, I was driving around looking for a place to pull off for the night. I could head south into the forest and find a nice spot to camp, but it was about 15 minutes away, and since the flat tire incident, I’ve been trying to stay off the trails as much as possible (though I did repair the tire). There were a few options, but being near Yellowstone, it seems everyone wants money in some form or fashion to stay overnight.
I pulled into the Yellowstone Airport and spotted a large parking area roped off for parking. What better place to blend in? Who would question a car sitting in an airport parking lot alongside all the other vehicles? This is where I stayed—hiding in plain sight. The cell coverage here was good enough to write this, so as far as I was concerned, I was set for the night.
Earthquake Lake
August 14, 2025 – Traveling between West Yellowstone and the Big Hole area, you will most likely take Highway 287. This route passes through Ennis and Virginia City, and by Earthquake Lake. In the 1950s, an earthquake caused a massive portion of a mountain to slide into the Madison River valley, creating a natural dam that now forms Earthquake Lake.
The hidden lake
August 15, 2025 – After a week on the road, it was time to double back to the Pioneers to revisit a few items on my hunt list and even more on my personal bucket list. One of those bucket list stops was this “hidden” lake. When someone describes the view as looking like a Bob Ross painting, how could you not go see it for yourself?
Back in April, the snow was too deep to reach the area safely, so I marked it down as a place to return to. Getting there this time wasn’t bad at all, and the view made the trip more than worth it. Sitting there, taking it all in, I felt content—like I could go home with my adventure already complete. I stayed in this area for the rest of the day sitting in the shadows of the mountain, just taking in the senses.
The Pioneers
August 16, 2025 – The Scenic Byway earned its name from the breathtaking views it offers along the drive. Stretching approximately 49 miles through the mountains, the road is dotted with countless turnouts and places to explore. Starting near Polaris, I headed north to see what I could find.
Antler Saloon Wisdom
August 17, 2025 – Around 1:00 AM, a storm rolled in and woke me up. The rain was certainly welcomed here, but part of me was hoping it would be gone by morning. I’m not afraid of a little rain or mud, but it does add another layer of headache to the hunt.
As the sun came up, the rain only intensified, so I was forced to work from inside the truck. By lunchtime, the downpour hadn’t let up, and the radar showed more on the way. That sealed it—I decided a trip to Wisdom was in order, and pizza was on the menu.
I’d heard about a small bar called Antlers Saloon, known for serving really good pizza. That made the choice a no-brainer. I ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger pizza. Highly recommended!
Sinks Canyon, Wyoming
August 18, 2025 – The trip was coming to an end, and I needed to start thinking about the drive back home. One of the stops on the way east was Sinks Canyon in Wyoming. This area is where Justin spent a lot of time with Tucker—so much so that they joked about receiving mail there.
The spot where the Middle Popo Agie River disappears into a crevasse and flows underground is located within the State Park. The park closes at 10 PM, but the surrounding land is BLM and National Forest. The “sink” itself is definitely worth a visit, as is the spot about a quarter mile away where the water resurfaces. The signage throughout the park is also very interesting—I’d highly recommend taking the time to read everything!
While beautiful, the park feels, to me, like it’s out of bounds for a treasure. That said, there are plenty of places to explore just east of the park, and BLM land also surrounds it on the other side. Looking at the trails, I find it hard to believe a treasure would be hidden on the BLM land because of the terrain. The trails look incredible, but someone with a broken leg would have an extremely difficult time navigating them.
Back Home
I have new theories now that I’m back home. I’ve marked many places off my search list with some confidence. Some locations just feel right, while others fit better logically but don’t feel as strong. At some point, I have to start labeling sites using logic and reason rather than instinct alone.
During the drive home, I began compiling a checklist and designing a reasoning model for evaluating locations. I should have done this earlier in my adventures, but I thought I could retain everything in my head. I was wrong—and I should have known better.
The next step is to compile all the information I have, build out a system, and implement it. If the hunt carries into next year, I’ll continue heading west. For now, I’m back to being an armchair conspiracy theorist.
I do plan to talk through some of my solves in hopes to inspire others to get out or think differently. They may have led me to just an adventure but they could lead someone else to something life changing. I will be writing up a Sawtooth Trail solve here in a day or so.