Scott, thank you for your recommendations!  
I think the same thing happens when people from outside of SEAlaska (Anchorage, Fairbanks etc.) come here to hike around or backpack into the wilderness areas in the Tongass National Forest or Misty Fjords National Monument. We have wonderful trails but every now and then people decide to go off the trails. 
Sometimes they are rescued and sometimes are recovered. 
In a temperate rainforest all sorts of things can be covered up by branches and leaves. 
Step on a rotten log, you end up in a hole with a broken leg. 
Going off trail often results in stepping on very slippery, wet moss, which can cause you to slide over the edge with a six hundred foot drop.
 Our unique weather conditions change so quickly, being prepared for the rain and high winds can be a life saver.
I have seen experienced hikers of from other areas come here and get screwed up, so I figure going to unfamilar territory like a glacier, it would be prudent to go with a expert.