Snow patrol

Alaska by snow machine. Temperature around -35C. Outfit a cross between Darth Vader and Dr Zoidberg from Futurama Photograph: Simon Mills

Outside the post office in the middle of nowhere Photograph: Simon Mills

Not far from warmth. I'd never seen snow like it Photograph: Simon Mills

The vast spectacular ice cave at Skookum in Placer Valley Photograph: Simon Mills

Climbing the ice Photograph: Simon Mills

Back in the saddle...on an Alaskan snow safari Photograph: Simon Mills

Dog-mushing is a big deal - the major competitive sport - in these parts Photograph: Simon Mills

Unfortunately, this man, out training for the Iditarod, had taken a wrong turn Photograph: Simon Mills

But he just kept going, face bare to the elements, flush and cold blasted Photograph: Simon Mills

This is proper backwoods territory, raw wilderness wearing its inhospitality like a blanket Photograph: Simon Mills

The end...your correspondent raw, cold and tired Photograph: Simon Mills