I had a brief (too brief:) stay in Yosemite in March and decided to get the most for my money by signing up for a private hike. John, my guide, was fabulous on both a personal and professional level. Two things stand out a month later (beyond the beauty of the place). 1) I ask a lot of questions by nature. John gave great answers to every single one, in addition to stopping to point out a number of fascinating things about Yosemite - all without being "preachy" - it was like walking with a fascinating friend, who delighted in showing you some hidden mysteries and whom you adored by the end of the hike. 2) we acquired a few stragglers, noticing them as they crept closer to us during the hike. This happened twice on the hike (actually, the only two groups we encountered, and, well, John and I were just having so much fun, he was so interesting, that both groups gravitated to us - they just wanted to hang in on the conversation. And they didn't know John was a guide, they just thought he was that interesting and knowledgeable. Catherine, the Operations Director, handled my inquiries, itinerary planning etc and was equally delightful, considerate, thorough and worked with me to make for a perfect adventure. Don 't hesitate to book with this fabulous tour company. I'm already planning a trip back. Just perfect.