Interesting to see how many different ways people handle their workflow. I create a new folder in the LR photo library and copy the new pictures into it using WIndows Explorer. But before I import them into LR, I open the new folder with Photo Mechanic, which is the fastest program I've ever used to scan pictures full size, no matter what their format. I used their single-stroke color keys to mark the shots I don't want, then delete them. If I haven't deleted at least a third, I go back again. Then I go to LR and import, as I've now removed the worst shots before I got into LR. As I'm working in LR, I use the X key to mark shots I don't want, and select Delete Rejected Photos from the Photo menu every so often to remove them from LR and from the hard drive.

While there is lots of input for you here, I strongly recommend you read Kelby's book and follow his methods. LR was designed and created by and for professional photographers to keep the workflow to a minimum. Using it properly will do just that and save you hours upon hours of going back and re-inventing the wheel.

I have read many procedures here but unfortunately all have time consuming drawbacks (whether the poster realizes it or not) and LR does have the ability to do all these extra steps they talk about doing. Maybe, they just haven't figured out how to set LR to do those tasks for them.

I would recommend, as you are new to LR, to create a new catalog for this trip only just so you have quick access to the photos. Don't worry about doing it totally right as this will be a temporary "learning" catalog.

Do keep your originals elsewhere so when the day comes you can re-import and do it properly. There is a lot to understand about using LR to your advantage so don't feel the need to rush things. Once you hit that point and do a re-import properly, you will be amazed at the time savings and the quick access you will have to almost any photo in the catalog.

Hope this helps.

I have about the same problem. I did the Alberta parks and then headed to Alaska. About 1,000 shots.
I loaded them into Lightroom as I went and backed up many of them. I have a preset that changes them to DNGs as they load. I added at least the keyword Alaska to them all and some of the animal keywords.
I took most of them in jpeg large fine so managed to have them all fit on one 32MB card without overflowing. I'm going to archive that card so if I ever want to go back and retrieve originals I can. I did shoot some of what I thought might be my best keepers in RAW and I'm not sure that doing the DNG conversion and preset didn't lose some sharpness for me.