STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — Routt County’s annual riddle returns.

The search for the Steamboat Springs Yule Log begins Monday, Dec. 11 with the Tread of Pioneers Museum releasing the first clue.

Continuing a December tradition hefty Yule Log — a 3-foot, 50-pound log with “Yule Log” written on it — has been hidden within the city limits of Steamboat Springs.

Each weekday’s clues will be posted on the museum’s website and Facebook page, aired on local radio stations, and printed in the Steamboat Today. A new clue will be released each weekday for up to ten days, unless the log is found sooner.

The 2017 hunt starts at the site of last year’s hiding place: the Strings Music Festival Pavilion.

According to Candice Bannister, Tread of Pioneers Museum executive director, clues often include information that refer to community history or past events. To help celebrate the Olympic season, some of this year’s clues will refer to local Olympic history. Unless the log is found sooner, the 10^th and final clue will be released by the media Dec. 22^.

“The Yule Log hunt is a historical clue-solving riddle and through that we want you to go on a journey from last year’s spot to this year’s spot, it’s not 10 clues about one spot,” said Bannister. “The clues take you on a path towards the log’s hiding place; they do not describe the hiding spot itself until the last few clues of the hunt.”

To encourage participants to solve the clues, and to try to prevent hunters from finding log randomly without using the clues, Bannister said the museum encourages people to solve the clues starting with clue No. 1.

This year, the log will not be placed in its hiding spot until after the release of clue No. 6 to ensure an opportunity for people to work through the clues.

“We’re excited to be able to continue to offer this,” said Bannister. “Especially around the holidays, traditions are important and we’re glad to provide a fun, family tradition for the community.”

Ten clues will be given, written by three cluemasters from Tread of Pioneers Museum, one on each working day, to help residents of the area narrow down where the Yule Log may be. Clues will be announced on the local radio stations and will be published in the Steamboat Pilot & Today.

The log will be hidden somewhere in Steamboat’s city limits, in a public, outdoor place that does not require a fee for entry. At least part of the log will be visible.