Flyout trips from Bear Trail Lodge can be among the best fishing days of your life — but prepare yourself and take the proper steps to ensure that you can hike across the tundra safely to get to the fishing grounds.

When we head up to Alaska, it will be my fourth trip to the 49th State, and Hanna’s second. I always find that my trips are more satisfying if I set up some attainable goals, while leaving my mind open to the possibility of being wowed by something completely unexpected. That’s highly likely on this trip, where the extraordinary could happen every day.