Country bumpkin seeks sophisticate's advice

I've been daydreamin' and mentioning same to my wonderful bride to the point
that she has picked up on my urge and 'more or less' authorized a trip to
Patagonia ( will have to be next season ... about a year from now ).

I'm a bumpkin and don't really know how all you world traveler types
organize and manage the various essentials of such trips. I ain't been on
a airplane in close to twenty years, for instance.

So, when you guys go to Alaska or Pango Pango or etc ... do you take all
your camping equipment with you, or buy most stuff when you get there ( I'm
thinking so far of about a month to six weeks of DIY fishing, mainly camping
but with enough hotel time to not go nuts, or start attracting condors
FWIW, I've researched the DIY thing enough to feel confident that it's fully
possible ... I will probably pay for access to a place or two, but not
guides and lodges )

Larry L ( who is still at the daydream stage but feels good about his
chances of pullin' this one off ) ( and who thinks this place needs a
boost that isn't from caffeine ;-)