On the road in Alaska

Caravan double-parked along the Alcan Highway at midnight Photograph: Roger Norum

Snowy ridges of Denali National Park Photograph: Roger Norum

The Yukon River wends its way across Western Canada into Alaska, finally emptying out in the Bering Strait Photograph: Roger Norum

The Brooks Range seen from an eight-passenger Cessna aircraft Photograph: Roger Norum

Crosscheck: Approaching landing just outside of Deadhorse, AK Photograph: Roger Norum

Have petrol, will travel: Northern Alaska's desolate permafrost road Photograph: Roger Norum

Standing at the southern edge of the Arctic Ocean with dad Photograph: Roger Norum

Some of the crudest oil in the world flows through the Alaska Pipeline. Currently, 700,000 barrels are pumped each day at a rate of 5.4 miles per hour, taking just over five days to complete the journey from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez. Because of the permafrost, 420 miles of the pipeline must run above ground Photograph: Roger Norum

Alaska contains 13% of the world's glaciers. Over the past century, the state's glaciers have lost approximately 500 cubic miles of ice to meltwater. Photograph: Roger Norum

Boreal forest occupies 44% of the Alaskan interior Photograph: Roger Norum

Crossing the Arctic Circle with dad Photograph: Roger Norum

Summer solstice, 1am at the Canada–US border Photograph: Roger Norum

Sunday Cross: Canada–US border post Photograph: Roger Norum

Alaskan Bill Miller and son Trey use a DIY suction machine powered by a lawnmower engine to pan for gold in a creek near Boundary, AK. Here, Trey finds a 1/2 ounce piece of gold. Their gross (and net) profit each summer averages about $30,000. Photograph: Roger Norum

Moose crossing, southern Alaska Photograph: Roger Norum

Alaska vanity plate in Canada's Yukon Photograph: Roger Norum

Native American Iñupiaq ritual masks Photograph: Roger Norum