The most important things to remember when assembling the contents of your bag are that this pack is not for long-term sustainability, and that when you are walking long distances,
ounces are pounds, and pounds are tons. Also, its contents should be altered as the seasons change. Here are my suggestions:
-Pack some good waterproof hiking boots, but don't stuff them in your bag. Throw them in the trunk and put them on before you leave your vehicle. Skip the spare socks if you can; they are unnecessary bulk and weight. Sprinkle a healthy dose of foot powder into the boots ahead of time. That will help keep your feet dry, and more importantly, it will cut down on the friction in your boots as you walk (yes, 30 miles is a LONG way to walk and preventing blisters is important).
-ONE good, sharp, quality fixed-blade knife with a full tang and a 6" blade will fulfill all of your needs. No need for a tomahawk if you're only talking about a 2-3 day journey.
Remember, when walking long distances, ounces are pounds. You can split small sections of wood by cutting into them with the base of the knife blade, and pounding the top end of the knife with another chunk of wood or just about anything heavy.
-Don't forget toilet paper. Pull the cardboard roll out from the middle and crush it down to save space.
-Quickest, easiest, and lightest fire tools are a Bic lighter and a few Trioxane tablets. Dryer lint is free, but doesn't burn as long as trioxane. Still might be worth packing some in a small ziploc bag.
-First aid for yourself should include some painkillers (opiate in case of severe pain), band-aids, an anti-diarrheal medication (because diarrhea = dehydration), a cough suppressant (to minimize noise), some antibiotics, suture kit, a triangle bandage and a tourniquet (though you're in deep doo-doo if you need that), and some antibiotic ointment. If you're without the luxury of an ER and you need more than that, it's been nice knowing you.
-Get a GI poncho for walking in the rain and to build a lean-to at night. 25 feet of 550 cord is plenty to make a lean-to.
IF it is safe to build a fire while you sleep, don't wrap yourself with your mylar space blanket; line the inner surface of your lean-to with it and build your fire a few feet from the opening of your shelter. You will be toasty warm! I have tested this on a ten-degree night in the middle of nowhere in northern Michigan.
-Have a few thin layers of clothes available. Practice hiking in a local state park and learn how to manage perspiration and body temperature.
This is the most important survival skill to learn. If it's cold, but above 20 degrees or so, you'll want to be able to strip down to a thin winter hat, gloves, pair of jeans and a t-shirt w/ unzipped fleece jacket while you walk. Overheating and sweating in cold weather can be fatal once you stop to rest or sleep.
Hypothermia begins when your body's core temperature drops to 95 degrees, just 3.6 degrees below normal body temperature.-Consider the water resources available along the walk from the courthouse to your home, and pack accordingly. It's a good idea to have enough water on hand to survive the journey, but if there are rivers / lakes / ponds along the way, some water purification tablets will suffice, and will take up far less space (and precious ounces of weight) than a water filter. Also take into consideration the possibility of contact with other people, and the threat they may present, when approaching a water source.
Dehydration is serious in a survival situation. If you feel thirsty, you are already dehydrated.-Buy some calorie and carb-dense survival tabs. They will keep you moving and take up minimal space / weight. Consider the probability that you will find other edibles along the way, either in abandoned stores / homes / cars, or in the woods. Do your homework on wild edibles in your AO.
http://www.survivaltabs.com/-A dozen disposable chemical hand warmers should easily get you through 2-3 days. Throw them in your gloves and boots as you sleep, as needed. If you are walking in sub-freezing temperatures, keep one on your bottle / canteen. It will take FAR more time and fuel to melt snow or ice than to keep your water above freezing with a chemical hand warmer.
-Buy a Kel-Tec Sub2000 that takes 33-rd 9mm Glock mags. It folds in half, is lightweight, relatively inexpensive ($350), will easily fit in a backpack, and is quickly deployable. Pack as many mags as you feel comfortable with. For me, it's three.
-Camouflage, camouflage, camouflage! For whatever environment you anticipate, have the proper camouflage. If you are moving through the woods, make it woodland camo. If it's in the snow, winter camo! Do not neglect your hands and face; our brains are wired to quickly spot human skin tones and faces. Don't use makeup for face camo in the winter; use a bandanna or other type of veil. You want to be able to determine the condition of your skin in sub-freezing conditions, assuming you have someone else traveling with you or a mirror available. If you're traveling through a city and it's not feasible to hide, dress "down" and in drab colors, to avoid unnecessary attention or the notion that you have valuable items worth stealing.
-Maintaining morale is paramount. If your vice is a cigarette, bring some. If it's your favorite candy bar, bring a few. If it's a favorite magazine, bring one to read in your down time. A fire (again, if it's safe to build one) is an excellent morale booster.
Morale is an incredibly important survival tool.This message has been brought to you by an ULTRA right-wing, racist, terrorist member of the Michigan Militia, who hates everybody, everything, does nothing but wear white sheets, drink beer while bitching about the day-mo-crats, and kick puppies to death for fun.