Zeroes to Heroes | Increase Lapham Mystery Cache
Hidden : 12/24/2009
Difficulty:
3 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: small (small)

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Geocache Description:

Welcome to the Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve and the "Zeroes to Heroes" naturalist cache collection, a series of puzzle caches that highlights some of the most influential Naturalists either from Wisconsin or with many ties to the state. Our hope is that you will come to learn a thing or two about Wisconsin's rich progressive preservationist and protectionist history, spearheaded by these incredible individuals who began their humble journeys with one singular purpose: To pass on our rich natural heritage to our offspring of tomorrow by doing our best to preserve it today.

The series is also an attempt to bolster the confidence of cachers who may have never considered creating or placing a puzzle cache by pairing them with some of the valley's most prolific puzzle and traditional cache placers.

INCREASE LAPHAM


Increase Allen Lapham; a name known by so few, yet a man whose body of work in the natural sciences profoundly affects the quality of life for so many here in the Fox River Valley, the State of Wisconsin, and beyond. Indeed, his contributions to understanding, documenting, protecting and conserving our natural resources, under threat of permanent destruction in the face of rapid population settlement and industrialization during the mid-1800's, earned him the right to be recognized by many other names: Wisconsin's First Great Scientist / Naturalist / Scholar / Renaissance Man; Father of the U.S. Weather Service; and Leader of the Wisconsin Conservationist Movement.

In the end, Lapham can be viewed as Wisconsin's First Advocate for the protection of its natural landscape, resources, history, and beauty. He successfully fought for conservationist policies at the government level; and encouraged its citizens to connect to the natural world around them - to share, protect and preserve it as a civic duty; and to teach their children to love and appreciate Wisconsin's natural beauty.

His lifelong interest in outdoor observation and investigation provides a model for how each of us can learn to use, protect and conserve natural resources for today and for future generations. Let's take a closer look at the life of Increase Lapham...

Let's start with some givens for the puzzle-solve, shall we? IN = 44 and EL = 88

As you prepare to walk the trails of the Bruce B. Purdy Nature Preserve in search of this cache, let's first take a walk through the life, works and accomplishments of Increase Lapham, as well as the impact he has had upon the understanding and preservation of the natural resources and beauty of both the State of Wisconsin, and right here in the Fox River Valley. You will come to understand and appreciate how he went from 'Zero to Hero' of the Wisconsin Conservationist Movement.

I = This one is a given.
N = As is this one.
C = Increase A. Lapham was born in Palmyra, New York, the fifth of thirteen children, to a relatively poor family. What is the sum of the last two digits of the year that Lapham was born?
R = At an early age, Lapham demonstrated a keen talent for topographical sketching. By the age of fourteen, he began supplementing his family's meager income by drawing and selling plans for the canal locks in Lockport, New York. This talent would soon be put to great use in his studies and documentation of the geography of Wisconsin. His work with the canals sparked an early interest in the natural sciences – at the age of sixteen, he published his first scientific article in the “American Journal of Science and Art.” How many years of formal education did Lapham have?
E = Lapham came to Wisconsin to help engineer the construction of a major canal connecting into Lake Michigan, at what is now the City of Milwaukee. Last digit of the year that Lapham moved to Wisconsin (-2).
A = Lapham spent many decades observing, recording and writing about the Wisconsin Landscape. He used that as the foundation for his advocacy of natural resource preservation – through both policy and action - at our local, state and national levels. How many decades did Increase work at this effort? Round up to the nearest whole number and divide by 2.
S = Once in Wisconsin, Lapham further developed his scientific prowess, and applied it to the study and documentation of the history and natural features of Wisconsin's landscape. His first comprehensive compilation of this work became Wisconsin's first commercially published book, “Geographical and Topographical Description of Wisconsin.” The last digit of the year this book was first published.(-1).
E = Whew, finally an easy one.

L = Break's over.
A = Lapham had a deep concern over the foreseeable destruction of Wisconsin's archeological sites, and its forest resources, resulting from the advancing population settlement. In a single year, he published two important works, one to address each area of concern. The Smithsonian Institution published “The Antiquities of Wisconsin”, which included the mapping and documentation of the archeological origins of the Fox and Winnebago area's Indian mounds. He also published a brief survey of Wisconsin forests, a pioneering work in forest conservation, documenting the potential for commercial destruction of the state's forests, and issuing a call to action for the planting of trees by the state's citizens. Third digit of the year these works were published (-3).
P = As chair of a state forestry commission, Lapham issued Wisconsin's earliest forest conservation plea, entitled “On the Disastrous Effects of the Destruction of Forest Trees, Now Going on So Rapidly in the State of Wisconsin.” This report issued a call to action for the state to protect its forests, calling for the scientific study and sustainable management of those resources. Subtract the third digit from the second digit of the year in which this report was issued.
H = Lapham recognized the importance of understanding and predicting the weather, due to its potentially devastating impact on the farming and maritime industries. His advocacy efforts were instrumental in the formation of the National Weather Bureau, which would eventually become the National Weather Service we still have in place today. Lapham issued the Weather Bureau's first "cautionary storm signal" for an impending Great Lakes storm; the first official American weather forecast, and the first correct one. Subtract the third digit, from the sum of the first two digits, for the year in which the National Weather Bureau was established.
A = Lapham eventually left the National Weather Bureau to begin work on a geological survey for the state of Wisconsin. He was ultimately appointed to the position of Wisconsin State Geologist. Subtract 1 from the sum of the third and fourth digits of the year of his appointment to State Geologist.
M = This is a subjective question that has one, and only one, correct answer, at least in the context of this cache puzzle. If all of the Naturalists, featured by the trails of the Purdy Nature Preserve, served together on a “Council of Naturalist Super-Heroes”, Lapham would be ranked as #X among the group. Add 4 to this number X to calculate M.

Your final coordinates are NIN°CR.EAS WEL°AP.HAM

Geocaching Check-in Procedures:
All geocachers must sign-in at the Apple Creek YMCA (2851 E. Apple Creek Rd- just across the road from the preserve) before geocaching on the preserve. A guest sign-in book is located at the front desk. You do not need to speak with staff to sign in nor do you need to sign out after you are done caching. The sign in log will be checked against the on-line logs to verify that this procedure is being followed. If geocachers do not follow this procedure, all geocaches will be removed from the Purdy Preserve. The Apple Creek YMCA is open M-F 5:00 AM-9:00 PM, Sat 5:45 AM-4:00 PM, and closed on Sundays. Geocaching must take place during these same hours.

Preserve Rules as follows; Trails open dawn to dusk, Hike on marked trails only, Carry-in and Carry-out, Respect property boundaries, All users must possess a YMCA membership, guest pass, or reside in Apple Hill Farms. The following are prohibited; Pets, Bicycles, Motorized vehicles, Cross-country skiing, Smoking, Drugs/Alcohol, Camping and Removal or destruction of plant or animal life. Please enjoy the preserve responsibly while respecting wildlife and other preserve users. All questions regarding this preserve may be directed to the Apple Creek YMCA at 733-9622

Congratulations gotta run, on snagging the FTF, Naturally!!!!


This cache placed by a member of:
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Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Guvatf znl abg or jung gurl frrz.

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)


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