The Jefferson Disk Mystery Cache

This cache has been archived.

succotash: We decided to get out and walk on this sunny Sunday and search for the new caches on the edge of Pacer Woods. As we pulled in the parking lot, we noticed the sign for the new golf course. We knew that the golf course was planned, but we were surprised to see the sign. As we walked towards the first cache, we noticed survey markers in the woods. We then noticed tree clearing activities. We quickly became worried about our many caches in these woods. This was confirmed when we discovered the Ben Franklin and John Adams caches were destroyed or compromised in the tree clearing.

After leaving the Ben Franklin and John Adams caches and seeing the impact of the tree removal on those caches we were quite worried about the Jefferson cache. This was the central and primary cache in the series and we hoped it was still intact. As we approached Stage 1, all of our visual references were gone. We had placed the first Stage where people could sit on a large log on a small wooded hilltop and comfortably solve the puzzle. The woods are gone. The log was smashed into the ground. We actually could not recognize the location until we saw the broken puzzle container smashed into the dirt. It was difficult to find all of the cache components. We dug through the soil to find all of the components and we took the broken pieces out with us. Stage 2 was originally further into the woods, and was now at the woods edge. The final stage had a survey marker 10 feet away and the ammo can was exposed. Fortunately, the “succotash security system” kept the cache in place. We were very fortunate that one of the new caches we started out to find mentioned a tool requirement, and because of that Corn was able to improvise a tool to release the ammo can. We had brought a small lightweight backpack to exchange swag with the new caches. It was a quite a different experience to eventually be carrying a large wooden kite, four full metal ammo cans, and two large Jefferson cipher containers as we bushwacked our way through woods, brush, and downed trees.

We were incredibly disappointed that no one from the University that had given permission for these cache placements let us know to remove the caches before they were comprised and destroyed. We were proud of these caches and happy to get such positive feedback from the finders. We were very uplifted by the log entries from people who really appreciated this unique cache series, the historical aspect, and the effort involved. We feel very lucky that by chance, we were able to save components of this cache series. We will log and re-deploy any trackables that may have been in these caches. It was great while it lasted.

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Hidden : 2/10/2013
Difficulty:
4 out of 5
Terrain:
3 out of 5

Size: Size: regular (regular)

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Geocache Description:

This is a three-stage puzzle cache. All stages are within 500 feet of the posted coordinates. You’ll need to answer a question at home, then proceed to the posted coordinates to begin your adventure. Have fun!

Please park at the convocation center parking lot at N33 34.430 W081 46.520

This cache is placed with specific permission from USC-Aiken.

Background Information

You probably know that Thomas Jefferson was a primary author of the Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States of America, and founder of the University of Virginia. But did you know that he was also inventor of a cipher system so good that it was used by the U.S. military 150 years later? While serving as Minister to France and as President George Washington’s Secretary of State, Jefferson realized the significance of encoding messages that were sent overseas. At that time, foreign postmasters opened and read letters passing through their command and Jefferson used various methods to protect his communications. In the early 1790s, Jefferson invented what he called a “wheel cipher”, consisting of cylindrical wooden pieces threaded onto a rod. In Jefferson’s original version, letters of the alphabet were inscribed on the edges of the wheel in random order. When the wheels were placed on the axle in the correct order and properly turned, information could be scrambled and unscrambled on the disks. Jefferson realized the importance of coded messages at home as well as abroad. As President, in his instructions to explorers Lewis & Clark, he advised Lewis to keep him informed of the progress of the expedition and put “into cypher whatever might do injury if betrayed.” Although Jefferson apparently abandoned use of the wheel cipher after several years, it was reinvented and popularized first by a French Commandant in 1890, and again by an officer in the U.S. Army just prior to World War I. The Army version, designated M-94, was used from 1922 to the beginning of World War II.

Jefferson Disk





Instructions

The Jefferson Disk is a very effective cipher because the user needs two pieces of information in order to access the message. The user first needs a "key" which refers to the order the disks are placed on the axle. The user then needs the "cipher" in order to align the wheels in a manner that will reveal the desired message.

This three stage multi-cache will have a form of the Jefferson Disk at stage one, another Jefferson Disk at stage two, and an ammo can cache at the final stage. You will need a Key and a Cipher at each of the first two stages, referred to as KEY1, CIPHER1, KEY2, and CIPHER2.

Stage 1

Prior to seeking Stage 1 you will need to determine the Key (KEY1) and the Cipher (CIPHER1).


KEY1 is given as “S1U1C1C2O1T1A1S2H1G1E1O2C3A2C4H2E2”

Note: The subscripts are a critical detail.

CIPHER1 is the completed sentence: “HOMEis__________!”

This 17 character Cipher (including the “!”) is missing the ten letter word that describes Jefferson’s home.

On to Stage 1

Stage 1 is hidden at the posted coordinates.

Stage 1 uses cubes instead of disks to help familiarize you with the principles of the Jefferson Disk.

At stage 1, open the container and place the seventeen wooden blocks onto the axle in the order of KEY1 then orient the blocks to read CIPHER1 on top.

The remaining three sides are the codes needed for Stage 2.

The backside contains the coordinates you need to go to for Stage 2, the bottom has the key (KEY2) for Stage 2, and the front is the cipher (CIPHER2) for Stage 2.

You will need to write down both KEY2 and CIPHER2 for use at Stage 2. Remember subscripts and underlines are critical details.



Stage 1 Disk Assembly


Stage 2

You have to locate Stage 2 using the coordinates ciphered at Stage 1.

Stage 2 contains a more traditional set of wooden disks with characters inscribed on the edges of the wheels in random order.

At stage 2, open the container and place the seventeen wooden disks onto the rod in the order of KEY2 then orient the blocks to read CIPHER2 on top.

The coordinates for Stage 3 are then shown on the line directly below CIPHER2.



Stage 2 Disk Assembly


Remember to mix up the disks before returning them to the containers.

We hope you enjoy this cipher puzzle!





Congratulations to Sought and Found for being First to Find!.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Svany: Bnx

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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