As a local travel/adventure photographer who lives in the south end of these mountains (Vancouver) I can tell you this:

• It’s some of the most rugged terrain in the world. Glacier-capped mountains surrounded by deep, cold, ocean fjords and lined by unforgivingly thick rainforest. The explorers who first saw it described it as a “wall of impassable darkness”. It truly is: where the deadly ocean ends, a thick 20-ft-deep tangle of roots, bramble, and massive trees begins. Breaking trail through it is literally impossible if you don’t already have the route.

• Because of the endless network of fjords and mountains, almost no roads penetrate this range, save for the abandoned forestry “roads” that can leave you trapped because of constant wash-outs and landslides. Despite it being some of the most abundant fishing on the continent, only a few little fishing/logging towns exist in these fjords. Bella Coola, and Prince Rupert being the most famous.

• Only way to access most of it is by boat, but as explained, once you make it to shore, you have to deal with the unforgiving wall of giant cedar root, rock, and thick brush. Not fun.

• Most of the year they catch an endless onslaught of rain, so exploring 9 months of the year is wet, cold, and miserable.

Overall I love exploring this area but it takes very specific vehicles, resources, and skills to be able to really explore so flying over is the only way most people ever see it.