Can this be accomplished successfully?
Yes, it can accomplished by staying on the river and only stopping to hunt, eat, and sleep. With a little exploring along the river banks. With a 30 day limit, your going to have to use the "interstate" (rivers) to your advantage and stay on course for your target date to meet with the time machine.
Do you accept the challenge?
Yes.
Where do you start?
Ohio River
What route do you take?
I would try to keep to the same path, but I might wonder around some.
Where do you plan to finish?
What is now, Seatle Washington.
How long do you think it will take you?
I would hope to be done by the 29th day.
What is in your field gear?
Rope, thermal gear, first aide gear, "snake oil", canteen(s), gloves.
What modern items are critical, and what items from the period will work for you?
Critical Items that I would take from the present to the past.
a) night vision (cheap Mono's)
b) batteries
c) compass/gps finder
d) zippo
e) zippo fluid
f) wet stone
g) topo map
h) flashlight
Items from that period that would work for me.
a) canoe
What are your priorities?
Take pictures of the route, animals, people (if contact made), plot my course on the river and document my travels for future parties.
How will you carry it?
Majority of what I carry will be left in the canoe, so that way I can stay mobile on the land. My primary source of travel would be done on the water. When I left the water it would be to take pictures and document wildlife. The lighter the gear the faster I can move on land.
What firearms will you take?
a) 30-30 Marlin
I) for eating purpose (Deer)
II) no need for a semi or auto because the lever action will be the fastest shooting weapon in the time. Easy to repair a lever action than a semi or auto, in this era.
III) great "brush" gun and you can get distance shots off if needed, I would not advise shooting at anything over 100yrds. If you cannot kill it with one shot, dont shoot.
b) .22(long) revolver
I) small game (rabbits, birds, snakes...etc)
II) better than throwing a rock
How much ammo, accessories, etc.?
a) 250 rounds for my 30-30
b) 500 rounds for my .22 long pistol
c) 2 bottles of lighter fluid
d) a pack of extra strikers for my zippo
e) 2 packs of small fishing hooks
f) a roll of 6lb tess fishing line
g) 4 packs of batteries
What edged tools do you take?
a) Leatherman
b) Puma Knife (fixed blade for skinning game)
c) Puma Bantam Knife (doing surgery in field)
d) Light weight Hatchet for firewood and cutting through bone
What navigational aids do you take?
a) compass
b) gps locater
What do you think your odds are of successfully completing this journey?
Very good.
What do you do in the 30 days before you leave?
Take as many pictures of the land as possible, collect date (soil samples, water samples). Document as much about the trip as possible.
I know I do not have any field time, I just wanted to try my luck with it. With that said, have your way with it...pros/cons...
