A $26000 Reward For A Walk In The Woods

A $26000 gold trophy is hidden somewhere in the woods of Massachusetts. It’s part of a treasure hunt called Project Skydrop, created by New Hampshire duo Jason Rohrer and Tom Bailey. The hunt is real, the adventure is real, and the prize is as shiny as it gets—10 ounces of pure gold.

Rohrer, a video game developer, explains why this hunt is different. “Most treasure hunts either get solved too easily or are way too hard,” he told CBS News. Not this one. Clues are provided, but they’re designed to keep you on your toes. To make it even more exciting, the gold trophy is also a key. Whoever finds it unlocks a password to access a growing Bitcoin prize. That digital pot is already over $20,000 and increases every time someone joins the race.

You can. For $20, participants gain access to exclusive clues.

They also get evolving aerial images showing more and more of the trophy’s surroundings. Hunters started with a 500-mile circular search area, but that circle is shrinking.

And for those needing extra motivation, there’s a live trail camera on the trophy, ready to capture the moment the winners stumble upon it.

Matt Hopkinson, a Massachusetts native and former worker with the Department of Conservation and Recreation, is already deep into the hunt, according to CBS.

He’s been hiking through the woods, using his forestry skills to track down the treasure. "I stood in so many places this morning thinking, 'It should be right here!'" he said.

So far, only a few critters—a deer, an opossum, and a porcupine—have come across the gold. But the hunt is still on. And if it’s successful, Rohrer and Bailey plan to take their treasure hunt global. Could the next hunt be in your backyard? Who knows. But you might want to invest in some hiking boots.