Thread Summary
User catherwood shared a link about a treasure hunt where the gold prize was dug up and given to charity due to physical markers being destroyed by a hurricane. This ended the contest, benefiting NYC and providing closure to players. User rookhunter speculated if the treasure spots were still findable using Google Maps, which maltedfalcon doubted due to the timeline of Google Maps' development. User blackboxlabs mentioned Terraserver as an alternative to Google Maps, active since 1997. User erexere discussed using vintage maps like AAA from 1977-1982 and suggested that actual map contours were used in the treasure hunt based on image details.
catherwood
The "pirates" can no longer say "We Lost Our Gold".
Gold Dug Up and Given to Charity
hxxp://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/ ... ater-good/
The huricane destroyed physical markers, making the clues invalid.
hxxp://welostourgold.com/thehuntbeover/
And so another hunt has been brought to an end, not by being found or won, but because the setters had to dig up the prize and cancel the contest. At least NYC will benefit, and the players get closure.
It is a sobering reminder of what a mere 2-3 years can do to a buried treasure hunt, when nature attacks.
rookhunter
kinda makes me wonder if Preiss looked over the treasure spots with google and detemined them still findable.
maltedfalcon
Seems really doubtful...
Byron Preiss (11 April 1953 – July 9, 2005)
Google Maps was first announced on the Google Blog on February 8, 2005,
Of course it was useable in beta the original resolution was awful compared to whats out there today
October is really when it went live.
blackboxlabs
Didn't have to be Google Maps. Terraserver was active as early as 1997. I remember making a composite photo from online sat imagery around 2001 or 2002.
erexere
I've enjoyed buying a number of vintage maps like AAA from 1977-1982. Evidence that actual map contures were used is suggested in the shape of the tail in image 4. More localized maps such as tourism or park maps were readily available at transit hubs or visitors centers.