Bikepacking out of Suburbia

[PHeller]

I live in rural Lancaster County, PA. Known for its rolling hills and Amish country.

It isn't exactly all rural though, because the surrounding counties are still fairly high density and the number of parks to camp in are few are far between.

I'm a graduating senior in college looking to do some exploration this summer. A little bit of a road trip to California and back. Maybe up to Canada. A cruise to the Mediterranean. Do some of the high peaks of Adirondacks. Hike some of the Appalachian Trail. Some motorcycle touring thrown in as well. I love the outdoors, and bicycles have been a lifelong passion of mine.

I'm lucky to enough to have had a father who was really into the same stuff as me. He left me a 1990 Team Marin (non-Ti) with racks, fenders, and even panniers.

I think the following questions can be applied to all of these adventures, but mostly to bikepacking.

If I wanted to do some basic bikepacking to get my feet wet, how would I go about doing it?
If I'm covering 30-40 miles in a day, but don't hit a campground, then what? Where does a bikepacker sleep at night?
The lightest tent I've got is still probably 7-10lbs, what's a cheap lightweight alternative? Tarptent? Hammock?

[wdlandparker]

sounds like some of the stuff on stealth camping at this site would do you good:
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/?o=RrzKj&doc_id=1385&v=M2&term=stealth%20camping&context=all

[sean salach]

More/better stuff on stealth camping to be found here: http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/

[wdlandparker]

oooo, I saw that site once, couldn't find it again though, so thanks!

[jhl99]

Assuming you have camping skills and basic bike repair skills...

In order to find legal places to camp in PA, I think you should look at a map.  Save stealth camping for after your skills and general knowledge improve.

Google Maps shows PA state forests.  Looks like Michaux SF isn't that far from Lancaster (70 miles or so).
Then search the PA  DNCR site for the Michaux State Forest map, better yet, contact the DNCR and ask them to mail you state forest Maps for Michaux, Bald Eagle and Rothrock and any other SFs that catch your interest.  If you search around and read the fine print, single night, primitive camping is allowed in most places in the State forests without needing to get a permit. 

If a 70 mile ride to Michaex is to much then another techinique is to drive to a state park that has camping near an area you want to ride (like NC PA, where the concentration of State Forest land is).  Leave your car at the overflow parking for the State Park Campground and go riding.  Maybe tell the ranger that you are leaving your car there for x days or not.

I've used a  9lb tent.  It can work, just heavy... maybe just take the fly instead of the complete tent?