Hello, Bullpups and assorted Sherlockians! We regret to inform you that the annual treasure hunt will not take place this year. More on this matter from our Treasure Hunt Master, Bullpup Hector (Rich Krisciunas):
The Treasure Hunt 2025 will be postponed due to unforeseeable circumstances. The Treasure Hunt Master, Rich Krisciunas, was preparing another strenuous test of Sherlockian and Watsonian knowledge but had completed only 25 questions, thinking the Treasure Hunt started in October, and he also needed to come up with this year’s cipher.
He was concerned about complaints from some Hunters that the cipher was becoming too difficult to solve. Backward lettering, fourth word in a sequence, “why does it have to be so hard? You’re supposed to be my friend, can’t you give me a clue?” were messages he received in e-mails every August.
This year, the Treasure Hunt Master spent too much time trying to come up with a simpler cipher so that, for instance, if you were a Sherlockian friend who lived in Texas, you could figure it out. One example was, “Can you decipher the following cipher with a phrase concerning Watson in the Canon?
“If YOU HAVE a map of the world that shows places where you have BEEN to or thought about visiting IN the last five years not including AFGHANISTAN or Italy. Cross your t and dot your I. Do you think you could PERCEIVE the names of three countries without much effort?”
Nine test subjects figured out the solution quickly, but one subject said it was too difficult. So, back to the drawing board.
Then the Treasure Hunt Master was reminded about posting the 2025 Treasure Hunt on the usual August 1 start date. His response was, “Ooops. Not October 1?” What to do?
I apologize for any disappointment, although the TH Master believes one Hunter will be relieved, and at least there are 25 questions already prepared.
Therefore, it is with great disappointment that this year’s Hunt will be postponed until next year in 2026, in August (it’s already in my calendar).
We look forward to renewing the treasure hunt next year, and we at the JHWS remain grateful to Rich for all the work he puts into the hunt each year!