He directed me to Doug Stoup, one of EYOS’ most experienced expedition guides and skiers. “You will be great!” Doug said, like we were talking about my ability to pack enough warm clothes. After my third or fourth “Are you sure?” he simply replied, “It’s incredible. See you in Greenland.” I set off to assess the warmth of my current wardrobe.

EYOS Expeditions offers an array of experiences in some of the most remote places on earth, including Antarctica, Madagascar, Indonesia, and the Arctic. They have raised the bar on expedition travel, and everyone I spoke with on their team seemed passionate about what they do, providing guests with unforgettable luxury adventures by private yacht.

Still, from my home in California, Greenland is far away — very far. Anyone traveling on a commercial airline to the island country should expect an overnight stay in Denmark followed by one or two domestic connections, depending on the weather. Flights to and from Greenland are in short supply — and if the weather turns, your departure or arrival may be affected. Only those with a true appetite for adventure travel, and a breezy attitude toward things like storms, lost luggage, and spartan layover accommodations, should embark on an arduous journey like this. After reaching your destination to board the boat, options for extra or missing gear are limited, if not impossible, to track down. This was my particular fate after my lost bags ended up on their own disparate journey, such that I had to scramble to buy new gear in Copenhagen before my connecting flight.

As soon as the weather cooperated, our first heli-skiing operation was underway. In preparation across the previous days, I was trained in backcountry and helicopter rescue. Never in my life had I imagined the possibility of needing to initiate a beacon or digging someone out of an avalanche. After the helicopter dropped off my group for our first run, I was so taken aback by the views of the mountains that my jitters eased. There is something surreal about standing atop a mountain without another soul in sight; it takes your breath away. I looked to Doug for one more nod of reassurance before strapping into my snowboard and heading down into truly uncharted terrain.

The first thing I noticed was the snow; it was so otherworldly it seemed like gliding on top of twinkling crystals. The nervous shaking in my leg eventually stopped, and I started to relax and let the snow do most of the work. I felt like I was floating, a sensation I’d never experienced while snowboarding. All of a sudden, my perception of heli-skiing shifted, and I realized I had nothing to be afraid of. EYOS’ guides scouted runs that were challenging without being overly intimidating — they had a little bit of everything. Halfway down one of the mountains, I glanced back to observe my fresh tracks. The mountain resembled an abstract painting, our turns splattered across an enormous white canvas.

Several hours later, we retreated to the ship for a much-needed break and a barbecue with burgers and Champagne served on the ice. Mother Nature demonstrated her strength as we dined alfresco on a sheet of ice beneath the Nansen Explorer’s 236-foot-long facade with 360-degree views of Greenland’s mountains.

Later that evening, two arctic foxes made their way across the ice just before sunset. Everyone, including the crew, rushed to the bridge to catch a glimpse of the majestic creatures. The foxes eventually disappeared into the white night, leaving only our boat, the ocean, and mountains of fresh powder.