Now we have the chore of making this dream adventure a reality. Dan went out and bought us an Atlas. We had to plan our route so we could minimize road time and maximize fishing time. We also had to decide if we wanted to take the driftboat or try to find a place to rent one when we arrived. If our timing was off and the creeks were running high, we needed to look to the rivers and lakes for a backup. The journey is 2000 miles round trip and towing the driftboat would slow us down some.

Since we are taking the entire entourage, in other words all 3 dogs, we had to find the locations of every Motel 6 between here and Yellowstone. We even found some cabins in Yellowstone that would let us have the dogs.

The weather channel has repeatedly mentioned that this has been one of the coldest winters in years in Montana. There is nothing more miserable than being frozen to the bone in close proximity to killer fly water. Today's technology has made it possible for us to be comfortable in bone chilling weather without resembling the Michelin Man. Proper layering with the right products should result in warmth and freedom of movement. You can sit on a stool and fish through a hole in the ice bundled to the gills, but you need mobility and good range of motion to fly fish in winter conditions.

We took a ride down to Eureka to visit Mike at the Eureka Fly Shop. For my birthday Dan had ordered custom fit waders for me. The waders I have now are men's neoprene boot waders with the smallest feet I could find. They bunch up over my 5 foot frame and I sorta feel trapped in them.

As we all know, layering is the key to staying warm, but I wanted to keep the bulkiness down to a minimum. The most important layer is the base layer against the skin which must provide both warmth and wicking. Starting with my feet which are always cold, we chose Capilene Liner Socks because they were light and breathable and afford some blister protection. Over these we placed Cortland Polar Tec socks. Next came a layer of light weight wicking underwear. As a layer over my underwear I chose a pair of River Fleece I.O. pants from Redington. Polar Tec materials are designed to evaporate moisture more quickly than conventional fabrics and they dry more quickly as well. These fleece pants also have Spandex stirrups to keep them in place and I chose them to enhance the breathability and waterproof performance of my waders. They are really soft and can be worn as outerwear into a restaurant to get that well earned cup of warm-you-up coffee after a day of fishing.

The waders we ordered were made by Simms. They are the guide weight breathable Gortex model and for once I don't have a crotch located somewhere between my knees. Conventional neoprene waders do provide warmth, but I find them constricting and slow to peel off on an emergency pit stop. Remember, women have to pull these suckers down, exposing the inside to the rain and body parts to the elements. Speed counts when temperatures drop and getting drenched is a distinct possibility.

The final clothing item to be chosen was the wading shoes. For this Mike recommended the Simms felt soled shoes with screw in studs. These shoes are light in weight and afford the fisherman the opportunity to adapt the shoe for the best footing. They are advertised to be durable and I will definitely be putting that claim to the test. While Dan steps over big rocks, I kind'a climb up one side and down the other.

You lose a great deal of body heat if you do not wear a warm head covering. Most fishermen would not leave home without their trusty "lucky" hat and I am no exception. I also make sure that I have fingerless gloves in my vest and polarized sunglasses.

My final purchase involved a new fly line. I was anxious to check out the new Cortland 555 line. The clear line was not available at this time, so I chose a sage color weight forward number 5 . Labeled a floating rocket taper, this line is described as having "a four-lumen mono core" that gives this line a "specific gravity and flotation that is off the chart." In other words, there are air spaces along the length of the core to enhance flotation and aerodynamics. The durable plastic body over this core is designed to require minimal cleaning, repelling dirt and shedding water easily. The manufacturer states the line coating is composed of "slickening agents and bonded coatings ... actually mixed into the line body coming to the surface with use and creating a virtually friction-free cast". Wow! Polymer additives are supposed to provide durability and crack resistance. We'll see. Even though I generally use a stripping basket, at my level of casting ability my lines take a real beating. This line is going to have to prove itself under the extreme conditions of combat fishing. I wonder if the slick coatings will get me out of a tree faster?

Well, we are now suited up and looking good. Now we need to get the adventure on the road and see if we made the right choices. I'll make sure we pack both thermoses. Hot coffee will take care of the insides when the thermometer is at freezing and the raindrops turn white. Mitzy, Buster and Sally all have their sweaters and raincoats too, but if it gets nasty they will be watching us from the comfort of the truck cab and wondering if we've lost our minds.

Columnist Joan Carter co-owns, with her husband, Dan Carter's Guide Service.