Touring - Newb. Touring Q's

Well, I have several questions to ask of you guys

1. For my senior project in High School I am looking to organize a bike trip for myself and 3 friends from Philadelphia, PA to the Great Smokey Mt. Ntnl. Park. If anyone has ever run a trip like this I would love some advice and a copy of your itinerary. Infact any kind of advice would be great b/c I have never tried something like this. Also, any additional resourses to use for planning a trip would be extremely appreciated.

2. Equipment! What am I going to need for a trip like this, I am a fairly vetran backpacker, but have never bike toured before. Any reccomendations would be greatly appreciated.

3. I'm going to need a new bike for this trip. My budget will probably be around 600 dollars. This bikes primary use after this trip will be road biking around the town of Amherst where I have just been accepted to college. Therefore the bike should be able to stand up to this trip, but the primary criteron in my purchase should be for college biking. I am not intrested in bike racing at all or using a bike for fitness, more as a convinent way to transport myself about and a toy for joy rides. Oh yeah, I'm pretty short(5'5) so the bike should be able to fit my efficent frame

Thanks a ton

Go used...

craigslist, your local paper, Ebay, etc.

You need an All-Rounder type jobby... good, older mountain bike w/rigid fork & longish wheelbase (steel frame) or a good find in an older Trek 520 or similar-steel framed-touring bike.

For 600 clams don't buy new fer goodness sake... you'll only end up with a buttload of regret later on.

I believe you can get a decent new mtn. bike in that range and then go with a bob trailer to haul gear .A decent touring bike new I believe would be at least $800-1000 and most use racks and panniers to haul gear in with those.I also backpacked before I bicycle toured so can say much of the gear itself will be similar(tent/sleeping bag/stove etc.) and the lightweight philosophy will serve you well.
As to route I would suggest picking up the Skyline Drive at Front Royal Va. and taking it and the connecting Blue Ridge Parkway all the way past Asheville N.C. where it drops you off near the GSMNP.This will basically follow the ridgeline all the way with a few up and downs but if you want some variety there are remote roads on either side down off the mountain paralleling this route for much of the way.And you will get some real elevation changes going down off and back up the mountain a few times.You can remote camp along this route (just use a backpackers leave no trace philosophy)or there are a few campgrounds spaced along the route. To get to Front Royal I would consider backroads through Amish country watch out for speeding horse and buggys j/k.and then cut south and west through Md. again trying to avoid the main roads.
Here are a few links for touring info
http://www.kenkifer.com/bikepages/touring/index.htm
http://www.adventurecycling.org/
http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/index.html?
http://search.bikelist.org/query.asp?SearchString=&FMMod=-1m&FMModDate=&SortBy=MsgDate%5Ba%5D&Scope=touring&RecordsPerPage=250

Also do a search on google etc. for "bicycle touring skyline drive blue ridge parkway" and you will get a ton of resources trip reports etc.Good luck and I still can't figure how you have managed to get scool credit for this you must be pretty smart lol.

The web sites listed in the responses you've received hold the answers to most of your questions. I would add:

www.cyclingtrip.com

The writer goes a little over the top in his search for meaning in his life but there's plenty of good firsthand touring info.
Also the travelogue section on this site( bikeforums)gives lots of insight.

As for the bike, fit and dependability are key. Almost any bike will do, but this would lead me to a new bike. The Fuji Tourer is close to your budget if not right there. It would also easily fulfill your college bike requirement.
I wouldn't eliminate used bikes. I T's suggestion is a good one. However finding a used bike that fits properly and is in good enough condition to take what you're going to put it thru could be a tough job.
I haven't done loaded touring, at least I haven't yet, however I do cycle long distances. From that perspective I can't stress enough how important proper fit will be. Close enough is good enough will be fine for your college riding but will make you wish you'd never seen the Smokey's. Make sure the bike fits.

Good luck on your adventure.

This will basically follow the ridgeline all the way with a few up and downs ...

Now that's an understatement! I'd hate to see your idea of a hilly ride. :p

Well we are talking about mountains here not hills so following the ridgeline you will still get some elevation changes like comparable to a really hilly ride but for the most part the changes will be fairly gradual as compared to crossing the mountains or coming off the mountain into the valley or piedmont though thee are some exit points or gaps that are not so steep such as at the James River or near Roanoke etc.
Blork To further qualify my generalized statements you might want to check out this thread if you have any interest in remote camping along this route but to summarize if you are discreet and low impact you should be alright. http://www.bikeforums.net/editpost.php?do=editpost&p=415050

Now that's an understatement! I'd hate to see your idea of a hilly ride. :p

That reminds me of the person my wife and I met, who came from Alaska to Marin Co., stating that the bay area was nice, just too flat! Marin for those who don't know, is arguably the birthplace of the MTB.