Dodge Journey Search (East) LIVE updates – Day 1

/ Steven Barley

I’ll be updating this page as information becomes available leading up to and during the Dodge Journey (East) search, officially starting at Saturday, 12 noon. You’ll find the latest at the top of this page.

Be safe. Be courteous. Buckle up and drive carefully. Remember, there can only be one winner. Enjoy the adventure and make some memories. Cheers and Best of luck!

>> Day 2 coverage continues here

Slideshow Clues: Expanded Route (approx 110 miles)

>> Full set of pictures (Source: Dodge’s Facebook page)

  • Ticonderoga Ferry ->
  • Orwell, VT ->
  • Brandon, VT ->
  • Killington, VT ->
  • West Bridgewater, VT ->
  • Woodstock, VT ->
  • White River Junction, VT ->
  • Lebanon, NH ->
  • 4A South, Near Enfield, NH

Notes: This is probably the best match for the final picture of a 4A south sign in the Journey slideshow.

Slideshow continues Sunday morning, 9am

375-mile clue

Solution: Schroon Lake, NY (Adirondack Marathon)

Note: We also see, on the bibs 87 (a reference to I-87 and 74, the road that runs east past Eagle Lake and to the Ti Ferry.

Apparently, this is the final online clue. The “final” clue is essentially the physical sign, already found.

25-mile radius? No.

Also, after the 375-mile clue is solved, we see:

Correction by Dodge on Twitter: When you solve the 5th clue vid it gets you within 375 miles of the Journey, not 25 as was written. More to come. Stay tuned.

Physical Clue, across Ti Ferry in VT

As reported earlier (bejones, 2:24pm), across the Ti Ferry into VT on 74, just before turning south on 73, a sign that reads:

This isnt the end
Its only the beginning
We cant wait to share
Where we went next
the journey is within 350 miles from here

Picture of the same (provide by Doreen Lyon, @jaredlyon’s Mom, on the hunt)

400-mile clue

Solution: Friends Lake, Chestertown, NY

425-mile clue

Solution: Lake George, NY (Queen of  American Lakes)

450-mile clue

Solution: Saratoga Springs, NY

500-mile clue

Solution: Albany, NY

Other clues:

Wild West Ranch, Lake George NY

Notes: Are the (missing) letters a clue?

Google street view to verify:

Eagle Lake, NY

Intersection – 74 and 73, across from Ferry, heading toward Mt Independence (south)

Google street view to verify:

From the other side, moving away from the ferry, approaching the intersection (note fish on pole):

Advanced clues (9/23, 10:00pm)

Picture #1 – Malta Drive In Theater, Malta, NY

>> Higher resolution version

Notes: The Dodge Journey is north bound (and the bikes are there, just blurred because of the Journey’s speed)

Could this be a reference to Paradox, NY? Paradox Lake? Conflicting directions as a Paradox? Pair of Docks?

Confirming shot:

Picture #2 – Ticonderoga Ferry

>> Higher resolution version

Confirming shot:

And for direction (VT side, looking towards NY):

Dodge on Twitter

We sent 2 pics to various sites. If posted and you can find them, they won’t lead to the car, but they’ll get you started (9/23, 21:12)

Gather your search party and stock up on beef jerky. The East coast #JourneySearch begins tomorrow at 12PM EDT. YouTube.com/dodge

See also from this site:

Google Map of partial Dodge Journey (East) route

Initial Route, from Albany, NY to Ticonderoga Ferry, VT side (approx 125 miles)

For more information, including How to Play, visit their YouTube channel.

1,113 thoughts on “Dodge Journey Search (East) LIVE updates – Day 1”

      • Notice the NYS flag behind the Journey. This flag is not on the ferry. It must have been added for the shot. The Journey is definately pointed to VT (confirmed just now in person). Could it signify NY is “behind them”? Or could it be just a day trip excursion to the sight-seeing boat docked on the VT side along with the ferry? Remember, the family IS camping. But no camping equipment packed into the car. We have some idears (that “ideas” with a southern NY accent).

        Like

  3. The contents of the historical marker in the Malta photo:

    Malta Drive-In Signs
    Open-Air Theater Started In 1949
    By Sarto And Leona Smaldone,
    Drive-In Purchased In 1988 By
    Brothers Ed And Tom Caro,
    In Operation For Over 50 Years.

    I doubt there’s any clue in that, but maybe someone else will see something.

    Like

    Reply

  8. If you look at the map on the under the pictures on this sight… You see the marker for the Malta Drive-in… Just to the east of that is the Green Mountain National Forrest

    Like

    Reply

  9. At the bottom of the Green Mountain Forrest NY, VT & MA come together. The last two Journey;s were positioned at the borders of states. This is were this vehicle will be, if i was close enough I would be there!!

    Like

    Reply

  11. First Journey was in Eldorado National Forrest in Ca/NV boarder… the second was in Black Kettle National Grasslands Ok/TX boarder.

    If you want the 3rd one… Go to Green Mountain National Forrest

    Like

    Reply

  12. I doubt I’ll win, but in the spirit of the competition, I’m gonna go out there and probably just travel straight up Route 9 from Albany to Lake George. Maybe I’ll catch a scent of the car’s trail.

    Like

    Reply

      • Correction – it is the same woman. Watch the video at 0:24 (part of the east sequence and only good shot of the whole family). You can’t tell she has her hair pulled back but the shirt is a match.

        Like

    • She is pointing at boat used for the Carillon Cruses lake tours. Replican of 1920’s 1000-Island boat. Wooden. Unique. I think its a possible day trip. They are NOT dressed for a day of mountainbiking. And what to do with the kids? Hmmmm,.,,A pair a docks. Get it?

      Like

      Reply

    • Hi Eddie. A couple of thoughts. They have never gone by driving distance, rather distance as the crow flies … and they’ve always been under the max radius. Cheers!

      Like

      Reply

  24. Very VERY curious about the comment left here by Misty :”Just saw a NEW Commercial for the Journey on the travel channel! They are “shaking” things up!” Anyone have any further information on this? I cannot find any videos online or on the TV.

    Like

    Reply

    • I have several that have mentioned that now. I have seen a new commercial (Thursday night) but it doesn’t end with … and we left one right here. That will prob be the commercial they run after this weekend. However, they typically launch the 200 or 300 mile clue as commercial the weekend of … catching it may be advantageous. I have the TV on (travel channel) ready to record …

      Like

      Reply

  25. I”ve been following along this blog since the midwest hunt, and I wish good luck to everyone out there. I have a gut feeling that the car is in the Adirondacks, not Vermont. This is based on the photographs, the elevation of the photos, the trees, etc. I was up through the Adirondacks three weeks ago, visiting my kid who goes to school upstate. We will find out soon I guess. I look forward to helping out today. Good luck!

    Like

    Reply

  27. I keep thinking it will be in one state, if for no other reason than it would cause a massive traffic jam at the ferry, and even more so, people with no patience. Either one could prove to be a nightmare for local law enforcement and/or locals, and I doubt Dodge would want bad publicity.

    Like

    Reply

    • agreed there are precious few crossings up there from VT to NY. Make the wrong decision, and your pretty much out of the running from the beginning.

      The definition of paradox on wikipedia: “A paradox is a seemingly true statement or group of statements that lead to a contradiction or a situation which seems to defy logic or intuition. Typically however, quoted paradoxical statements do not imply a real contradiction and the puzzling results can be rectified by demonstrating that one or more of the premises themselves are not really true, a play on words, faulty and/or cannot all be true together.”

      What clue looks to be true but really is not, but when combined all together makes it seem true?

      And the clues themselves have the Journey (literally) driving in all directions.

      Like

      Reply

      • Hi, Barbara,

        I have a theory on “What clue looks to be true but really is not, but when combined all together makes it seem true?” I don’t want to post anything until the search goes live and a couple of clues have been released, but I will post more then. Not trying to be coy, just don’t want to send anyone in the wrong direction if I’m off base. I will say that it leads me to think the Journey is not in the Mt. Independence area. But who knows? Damn, this is fun!

        BTW, I’m not in the chase, just obsessed like everyone else.

        Like

  30. have the kayaks been used in the two previous journeys? i feel as though the state line being in lake champlain may have something to do with something..

    Like

    Reply

  31. as well as notice in the video of the bikes being taken off of the roof of the car, you can make out in the background a lake with a taller mountain all the way in the background, and what seems to be an island. this must fall somewhere on the VT side of Lake Champlain.

    Like

    Reply

    • Using the Google Earth ruler, it’s between 142 and 143 miles “as the crow flies”, from Malta NY to the Canadian border on the west shore of Lake Champlain.

      Like

      Reply

  39. Anyone know of a place up there that has day camp activities for children, as well as mountain biking trails? After all, there are no child seats on the back of the bikes, so they would have to drop the 2 kids off somewhere before they go mountain biking.

    Like

    Reply

  43. Hi Steve,

    Kudos for being the first, by far, to find, investigate and post the advance pics. I believe the bikes are photochopped out of the Malta picture due to the uneven blurring immediatly above the roof. Is something being hidden…. 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  48. The first two Journeys were hidden on very small, dead-end roads that looked like they went to private property. My advice would be to pick an area where you think it’s hidden, then search every small dirt road…..unless “no trespassing” signs are posted. Respect the local property owners.

    Like

    Reply

      • Yes, and both places were very obscure and out-of-the-way spots. Not places that have lots of visitors annually or that would be recognizable. Hadrian, Green Mtn. National Forest looks promising, but I’m non-committal about whether the hiding spot is in NY or VT. Wouldn’t want to send searchers off in the wrong direction!

        Like

  50. I dunno if you people are being intentionally funny, but some of these comments are hilarious. (MikeK, Hadrian, Ryan) It’s a great way to start the day…..laughing.

    Like

    Reply

    • We have a great group here 😀 with the right attitude … After all, there can only be one winner (of the car). The true reward is the adventure, the experience and the memories (and making friends too).

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to eddie Cancel reply