Treasure Mountain — French Expedition Gold

In the late 1700s, roughly 300 Frenchmen and 450 horses left a Kansas outpost prospecting south into the Rockies. Near present-day Summitville they struck rich gold on Treasure Mountain — ore that would be worth tens of millions today. Ute warriors attacked; survivors buried the gold and remade maps. Only an estimated five men reached Kansas; sole survivor Le Blanc carried duplicate maps to France. A second expedition via Taos ended with the guide returning alone, acquitted of murdering his party. Treasure maps passed through William Yule, Asa Poor, and Montroy without success. Descendants of Le Blanc claim an authentic French map and reported finding seven of eight landmarks. In 1993 a family member reportedly entered a man-made tunnel south of Del Norte before fleeing after bats, rattlesnakes, and a self-lighting candle. Some believe Utes captured part of the French gold near the Rio Grande Canyon mouth. Coordinates mark Treasure Mountain in the Rio Grande National Forest.