Originally Posted by
reppans
FWIW, the game changer for stealth camping for me was the ability to carry my entire rig comfortably... like a 1/4 mile. Single quick release pannier with backpack straps, and bike across the top of my shoulders like carrying 2 water buckets with a pole. Then hike a trail 100-200 yards in, and then bushwhack off trail another 100 yards until out of sight of the trail. Climbing to higher ground can shorten the overall hike, but it's also nice to get far away from road noise. Doesn't even feel like sneaking around - public land that I'm allowed to be in... (well, at least until dark.... shhhh).
The farther you go in and further off trail, the lower the chance of detection, the less you worry, and the better the wilderness experience. You can go in early, sleep/leave late, and enjoy a near backpacking-quality wilderness experience with complete privacy/solitude. I actually love this aspect of it - civilized sightseeing, food, and people by day; followed by my favorite part of backpacking by night.
Tough to do with fully-loaded traditional rigs though...
Good points. Agree totally. On public land to you might want to keep it legal and out of sight. I've found if you set up near nightfall and pack up reasonably early no one will probably even know you were there.
Your bicycle reflectors can give you away if tucked into the trees at night and a cars headlights happen to hit them. I'm remembering a night up in the Willamette National forest when an older Volkswagon van had stopped to investigate the reflection from our bikes they noticed when they were driving by on a secluded gravel road. It had to have been past midnight, closer to 1 or 2 am. I'd assume they saw a reflection and were looking to see if they were seeing the reflection of an animals eyes. Even if they knew it was from bicycles, they were likely curious and nothing else. Still, it makes you realize you have no idea who is in the vehicle just as much as they have no clue who you might be. Since our campsite was totally legal, maybe being in plain sight would be a better way to go...