I booked this hike through Tripadvisor while in Vegas for a conference. It was the highlight of my trip! I had read up on Valley of Fire on Kindle Unlimited and thought it sounded like the most interesting option. I had picked the basic hike even though I wanted the intermediate just because I had to be back at the hotel for a work thing. Jacob contacted me and asked was I good with intermediate hike leaving same time, 6 am. Yes! Went with a group of girls who all knew each other and were around my age. John was my guide and he gave us lots of good information and he let us pick how strenuous we wanted the hike to be. I'm fairly clumsy so I am not afraid of climbing high but I kind of scrabble up like a monkey! I have never been in this environment at all, so didn't know what to expect, but it was cold in the morning, so I brought a light overshirt, a jacketette, if you will. It was so beautiful. We saw mountain goats and a jackrabbit! John took us to a truck stop on the way there and back which was cool to go to the restroom and get souveniers and coffee, champagne on the way back. He had snacks for us and carried all the water and took pictures. You could tell John loved the area and knew all the plants and lore about the area. Beware the "cat claw" tree. It hurts. Luckily had a girl scout (Sherry) who had bandaids so all was good. I left my jacket in the car and John mailed it to me. It got home when I did. The scenery just cannot be captured in pictures, you have to go! My husband was disappointed I didn't go to where Captain Kirk died, but I told him we have to go back! John picked us all up at our hotels and the other girls were all repeat customers that Jacob had taken out before to a different area. Some other people I was with rented a car and went to Red Rock, but I was glad I didn't have to worry about all that drama. John gave us good information on Vegas in general too. It was cool and nice in the desert, perfect weather, not hot at all!