Gold Rush: Race to the Gold Fields

The word is out, Gold in the hills, valleys, and mountains of California.  How will you get to the Gold Fields.  Option 1:  Go by wagon, horse, or foot from St. Joseph, Missouri to the California Sierra Nevada Mountains.  Option 2:  Travel by boat to Panama, cross the Isthmus of Panama through malaria infested fields, and take a second boat to San Francisco.  Option 3:  Travel by boat around South America to San Francisco.  Each option has risks and dangers with health, safety, and time.  Which option is best?  Why?  How will you select the optimal way to get to California.