Clue 1
A crueler crew we never knew
Than those whose barbs have stung us
Faith be anew, here's your first clue
The puck, it's parked among us
Pioneer Press Explanation: Medallion hunters were disgruntled at last year's early end to the hunt. Reveals the puck is in a park - among something, in this case, the leaves. Faith refers to nearby churches, such as St. Andrew's Catholic Church.

Clue 2
Standing here, you can see, so clear
A view of our Capitol dome
If it's treasure you seek, nearby you should peek
And you may see our medallion's home
Pioneer Press Explanation: Mural of Capitol dome is on wall near Como Park swimming pool and suggests reader take a peek in nearby woods.

Clue 3
Keep yourself warm, away from the storm
Even in the dead of winter
Wide as triple E, our door will always be
Open to all who enter.
Pioneer Press Explanation: The west-facing entrance to Como Park is adorned with a stone entry donated by E.E. Englebert from the Crosby Estate in 1937.

Clue 4
The coldest star will guide you far
In finding the puck this year
The red white and blue is a lovely clue
Your legions should hold dear.
Pioneer Press Explanation: Coldest star refers to the Star of the North, or L'Etoile du Nord, the name of the French immersion school a couple of blocks from Como Park. Red, white and blue refers to the French flag, and legions to the French Foreign Legion.

Clue 5
Treasure hunt lifer, prepare to cipher
This one's yours to keep
Was it two or three, they seem not to agree
When St. Paul made a great leap
Pioneer Press Explanation: There are seemingly contradictory accounts of when the park was founded - the Web site says 1872, when the state Legislature authorized St. Paul to buy the land; the park signs and other references say 1873, when St. Paul bought the land. Also, Feb. 29, 1872 - leap day - was when the Minnesota Legislature authorized St. Paul to buy land for a park, which turned out to be Como.

Clue 6
Of course we all know there's not too much snow
To cover the place where it's lying
But do not dismay, we'll find a way
To stick it where the sun ain't shining
Pioneer Press Explanation: Stick and where "the sun ain't shining" reveals it's in a wooded area.

Clue 7
Rid of the man she ran and ran
They say she was quite the talker
A carpenter's beau - many said so -
Neared the finish with a walker
Pioneer Press Explanation: Ann Bilansky, convicted of killing her husband, Stanislaus ("the man" means Stan), escaped from jail and hid out near Lake Como in 1859. She was assisted by John Walker, the carpenter many thought was her lover. Both were caught; she was hanged the following year.

Clue 8
Head on out, have not a doubt
A good time to take a stroll
Gab aloud with the hunting crowd
Lure me precious to your soul
Pioneer Press Explanation: "Me precious" is an oft-repeated line from the ring-obsessed Gollum in the new "Lord of the Rings" movie, "The Two Towers," which in turn suggests the sandstone walls that once supported the now spanless old streetcar bridge near the medallion site. Take the first words from each of the lines and you will sound out "Hedda Gabler," a famous play by Henrik Ibsen, whose statue was recently returned to the park after a long absence.

Clue 9
Here's a who done it, now you've begun it
To solve this mystery of sorts
If I were a sleuth, I'd search for the truth
By playing this greatest of sports
Pioneer Press Explanation: Add Horton to "here's a who," and you have the title of the famous Dr. Seuss book, "Horton Hears a Who" - and you'll have discovered Horton Avenue, a street just north of the prize. Sport refers to nearby McMurray Field and the medallion hunt.

Clue 10
With a car, you don't get far
And a horse would get you nowhere
But celebrate, it's not too late
For round and round, you'll get there
Pioneer Press Explanation: Horse to nowhere and round and round refer to the carousel in the park; also car not getting you far refers to the blocked off road near the medallion site.

Clue 11
Who hears a who? Search a park with a zoo
Better yet, cross the street from the sculptures
It's a little bit cool for a dip in the pool
But a woodsy course will feed you vultures
Pioneer Press Explanation: "Horton" hears a who, as in Clue 9. Como is a park with a zoo, and Horton is the street separating the snow sculptures from the medallion site. The pool is just to the east of the site, and woodsy course refers to a bumpy course - we guess it's used by dirt bikers - in the wooded area where medallion is hidden.

Clue 12
The last of our clues will put leaves on your shoes
And should lead you straight to the goods
Between Como and Horton, a place fit for courtin'
Is a dense stand of tumbledown woods

From the old fireplace, look north and pace
Over hillocks that give cyclists pleasure
The last row of humps faces some fallen-down stumps
Forty paces from the last hill to the treasure

Fallen trees mark the spot, look low - now you're hot!
Do not lose your Minnesota Nice
If you're in the fine fettle, you'll discover the medal
Next to timber, under leaves, encased in ice
Pioneer Press Explanation: Clue spells out the location of the medallion.