Buried Treasure San Francisco

The 4 locations in San Francisco created an X leading to the trail where the chest was found.

NPR has a great story about the hunt and solve. It also aired on All Things Considered, NPR's audio-based newsmagazine. 

Below is the exact solution text from the hunt's website: 

“Eighteen Bold letters Preserved In a clearing” There are 18 gigantic concrete letters piled in a field near India Basin Park, remnants of a sign created by Michael Manwaring and removed in 2020. They're intended to eventually be repurposed as park signage. The physical letters are uppercase I, B, and P, lowercase the rest. This wouldn't be locatable from the Internet alone.

“a dark room's view...” Camera Obscura and its view to surfers, and surf fisherman, reeling.

“dry ruin's gate” Fleishhacker Pool. Only a meager doorway-like ruin remains of this once great saltwater pool. For those looking at Sutro Baths, we'd note that those ruins are still quite wet.

“solar's tall mast” The Point of Infinity on what is technically Yerba Buena Island, but colloquially referred to as Treasure(!) Island. The sculpture is billed as a quasi-sundial by artist Hiroshi Sugimoto. Yes, this clue is within the city of San Francisco.

The chest in it's hiding place in a photo only posted after the chest was found.

“chart a historic cross” Draw lines between these points and, in true treasure hunting fashion, X really does mark the spot. The X lands just off the Historic Trail in Mount Sutro Open Space Preserve.

“To trace the true route...night...pack a light” From the X there are small indicators which glow under UV light directing you about 5 minutes down the trail and up a side trail to a rock outcropping.

“steadfast basin, where feet part and agree” The chest was buried about 8 inches deep, in a hollow nested amid large boulders. The trail briefly and clearly splits in two, parting around the rocks.