Ed Mujica is $5,000 richer after finding The Times Treasure Hunt certificate over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Mujica also found the certificate in our hunt last spring. In that hunt, after searching tirelessly, he was finally able to find the certificate hidden under a rock near Hunt’s Tomb and the Phoenix Zoo.

This time Mujica found the certificate hidden in a drainpipe on “A” Mountain near ASU. Mujica says he saw other hunters also looking for the certificate. “They were turning over rocks and looking everywhere just like I was,” said Mujica.

The mountain, which is officially named Hayden’s Butte, is a popular hiking area for students and Tempe residents.

Mujica had been looking for the treasure on “A” Mountain on previous occasions and had just about given up when he says he noticed several of the drainpipes and began looking inside them.

“I was just about ready to leave. I had looked in about ten of them and didn’t find it. I did find a bunch of stuff I wouldn’t have wanted to take home. Then I saw a rock about a foot inside the pipe.”

The certificate had been mounted onto the back of the rock.

Times staff were surprised someone had found the certificate before all of the clues were released, but they were not as surprised when they learned that the treasure’s finder was Mujica.

“I wasn’t too surprised when I found out it was him,” said Steve Strickbine, publisher of The Times. “I know he spent like 100 hours in the last hunt, so I’m sure he was even more determined this time around since it was $5,000,” he said.

According to Mujica, he had been looking for the treasure on “A” Mountain on more than one occasion and said he had spent two and a half hours on the previous Saturday with his kids combing the mountain.

“At first I thought it might be around the “A” on the mountain. I looked everywhere around there. I mean everywhere,” he said.

Mujica says he had zeroed in on “A” Mountain after clue number two said, “To find the prize this time around, you’re gonna have to climb.” “I used to live in that area, and I knew it was a popular place to climb,” he said.

Mujica then said when clue number four told hunters that the treasure was in “plane sight” his suspicion was confirmed. “I knew that plane was misspelled on purpose and that there are always a lot of planes flying really low there. While we were there on last Saturday I bet 30 planes must have flew over,” he said.

The bonus clue, revealed on Thanksgiving Day, referred to a destination point of the Little Red Hen. The clue was of course referring to the old flour mill located just west of “A” Mountain.

Overall, The Times Treasure Hunt appears to have more hunters than ever, and while our esteemed publisher has mentioned changing the hunt to another type of cash contest, after seeing the response to the hunt this time around he has recanted.

“I have to say that I would never have imagined that so many people would take the time to go out and play in the hunt. I think it confirms that we’re really on to something with this thing. Next time around I think we will give it a bit of a twist, maybe by adding another step to it or something. Regardless, as usual, it’s going to be a lot of fun,” he said.

Over the past two years The Times has seen its circulation more than double from 55,000 copies to over 120,000 copies today. The Times is circulated in Scottsdale, Gilbert, Northeast Phoenix, Chandler, East Mesa and Glendale. The publication started in Scottsdale in 1997 when the founders hand-delivered the eight-page tabloid around to retailers in the North Scottsdale area. Today, The Times is in the top five papers in the state of free publications by circulation.

The Times Treasure Hunt has become a favorite among readers. Look forward to a new hunt coming this spring!

Following is a list of the clues released prior to Ed Mujica finding the $5,000 treasure, along with a brief explanation of how each piece fit into the puzzle.

Clue #1

Thank you for playing. This is going to be fun. We hope at the end you’ll agree.
At this early stage this simple clue tells little about where the treasure could “B”.

Explanation: Since Hayden’s Butte is more commonly known as “A” Mountain, this clue made indirect reference to the location’s hiding place.

Clue #2

The question becomes where, of course, and we’re sure you’d like to know.
The prize is hidden in a city in which it has never been found before.

Explanation: The Times treasures of previous hunts had been found in Scottsdale, Gilbert and Phoenix.

Clue #3

Like the hunts of the past, this is lots of fun.
The treasure’s hidden in an outside location, though it cannot see the sun.  

Explanation: This clue made clear that the treasure was hidden in a dark, outside location.

Clue #4

You’ve likely noticed our clues are vague, but at least they tend to rhyme.
To find the treasure this time around, you’re gonna have to climb.

Explanation: This clue set many hunters on the path to “A” Mountain, since clue number two ruled out many of the popular Valley hiking areas.

Clue #5

The prize where it’s hidden does not receive much light.
However, you could still say it is hidden in plane site.

Explanation: This clue again makes clear that the treasure is hidden in a dark place. It also has the word “plane” purposely misused, since planes fly at low altitudes over the treasure’s hiding place on their descent into Sky Harbor.
 
Clue #6

Possible locations are still many, so let’s start to narrow it down.
A destination point for the Little Red Hen is a place you’ll want to be around.

Explanation: Anyone familiar with the tale of the Little Red Hen knows that she eventually makes a trip to the mill to have the wheat ground into flour. The old mill is located just west of “A” Mountain and can be clearly seen from the treasure’s hiding place. m

The staff of The Times would like to thank all who took part in the hunt. We would also like to thank all of the loyal readers of The Times who have made this publication such a great success. Without you, we would be nothing more than a free newspaper. Wait, we are. Anyway, thanks! Happy holidays!