I just came across this on the Kim du Toit website:
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The Challenge:
You have the opportunity to go back in time, arriving on the east coast of North America circa 1650, and your goal is to cross the North American continent, taking as much time as you need. When/if you reach the Pacific coastline, youll be transported back to the present day.
Your equipment for this journey will be as follows (taken back in the time capsule with you):
-- enough gold to buy provisions for the first five days travel
-- a small backpack containing some clothing essentials
-- a winter coat, raincoat and boots
-- waterproof sleeping bag
-- ONE long gun (and 800 rounds, but no scope)
-- ONE handgun (and 1,000 rounds)
-- TWO knives
-- an axe
-- a box of 1,000 strike anywhere waterproof matches
-- a topological map, binoculars and a compass
-- and a U.S. Army First Aid kit.
Once there, youll be given a horse, a mule and a dogand apart from that, youre on your own. Remember youll be traveling through deep woods, open prairie, desert and mountains. You may encounter hostile Indian tribes and dangerous animals en route, which should be considered when you answer the following questions (and only these):
1. What long gun would you take back in time with you?
2. What handgun?
3. Which knives?
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So how would you guys do this? Having the benefit of hindsight because I read his results,
http://www.kimdutoit.com/ee/index.php/essays/ I'm divided between two scenarios on the guns: Either a Garand and a .44mag revolver (undecided between single and double action), or else a .44mag 1894 Marlin and a .44mag revolver (to cover myself if one gun gets broke / lost -- the ammo is still usable for the second). I'm thinking both hunting and potentially defense against multiple attackers (I watched "Last of the Mohicans" last night
), which is why I didn't go for a bolt action on the rifle.
For a while I was thinking .22 pistol for small game and such, but if you lose your rifle, have fun with grizzlies and Injuns.
Shotgun would have been versatile, but 800 shotshells takes up a lot of room, even if you have a beast of burden.
On knives, I would definitely go with a fixed blade. Probably two K-Bars. At first I thought two knives was dumb -- a knife and folding saw would be much more useful. But if you lose a knife in 1650, good luck finding another one in the middle of unsettled America. Given the value of a knife as a basic survival tool, two is probably a good idea.
If I could tweak the items on his list, I would swap the 1000 matches for a magnesium fire starter. I would also, instead of buying five days provisions with the gold, instead buy salt, flour, and other "edible accessories" to preserve meat and break up the all meat diet, at least for longer than 5 days.
I like that he threw in a dog. Another mouth to feed, but at least you have a buddy to stand guard at night and let you get some shut-eye.
So what would you guys do? His list of supplies isn't ideal, and I could think of a better 10 or so item list, but that's another thread...
