Review for Lasting Adventures and Guide Isaac V…read more Backpacking Half Dome with Lasting Adventures was an unforgettable experience, made even better by our incredible guide, Isaac V. It was just my spouse and me on the trip, which made it feel really personal and special. Isaac was not only knowledgeable and professional but also had a great personality that made it easy to talk openly and honestly with him. He gave us the confidence we needed to take on this adventure and was encouraging every step of the way. Thanks to his guidance and support, this trip was a true success. We would absolutely recommend Lasting Adventures--and Isaac specifically--to anyone looking for a meaningful and empowering outdoor experience. We're already looking forward to doing another trip!

I did the guided 3-day yoga and backpacking retreat at May Lake/amount Hoffman in Yosemite and it…read morewas AMAZING. The location was so beautiful and serine, and not far enough to scare off an absolute backpacking beginner like me! I kinda pinched myself several times to make sure it was all real. The yoga instructor Britta was fabulous. She had amazing insight, knowledge, and overall her "do what your body tells you" guidance approach to yoga was above and beyond what I expected. She's also just such a warm and encouraging person, which helped me engage spiritually and openly in every practice. Also, I loved that she guided us how to use yoga in our hikes and various activities throughout the day (like breathing technique and TOE YOGA!) The guide Dawson was so chill, knowledgeable and an ASTONISHING cook! I went in expecting to eat nothing but berries and raw avocado, but he made delicious meals I'd gladly eat any day anywhere (like vegan French toast with berries, chia seeds and syrup...never would have thought that was do-able on a backpacking trip!). His mellow and trustworthy demeanor made everything feel so effortless and eased so much anxiety I had going into the whole thing. Overall, it was the trip of a lifetime in such a beautiful place. I made new friends, I saw new things, I never felt judgement, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

Our tour guides were absolutely amazing (John and Mia) and they were very knowledgeable and helped…read moreanswer all of our questions (about Yosemite in general, specific famous features on our hike, and even random questions about birds and plant life). The hike is as advertised (in terms of ratings and what features you will see). They always put safety first and even offered to help carry our back packs when we got tired or were crossing a small stream! They treated us like close family/friends, were encouraging us along the way, and adapted to our pace and schedule. Our group ranged from age 6 to adult and we couldn't have made it to the end of the hike without them! Book them for your tours and have fun on your Yosemite Vacation!

Will definitely be booking again with John and Y Explore!!! Honestly when we booked the guided half…read moredome hike I went into it thinking we were just utilizing the purchased permits as hadn't won the lottery ourselves but as the day progressed I became more and more grateful for the wisdom and knowledge of our guide. From breathing techniques and tips for ascending and descending the cables to the order of of our group and perfectly timed rest breaks this was worth every penny as we had not only a successful summit but an overwhelming positive experience! Hubby and I are excited to travel again to more destination with Y Explore in the near future!

When you arrive in the Valley and get your (almost useless) "Yosemite Valley Hiking Map" you'll…read morefind 4 trails listed as "easy" (flat & short), 5 listed as "strenuous" (steep & long), and only a single trail - the Valley Loop - listed as "moderate" (flat & long). The map goes on to mention that the Valley Loop Trail runs 13 miles, begins at the Lower Yosemite Falls Trailhead (shuttle stop #6), and "provides solitude with occasional route-finding difficulty". ROUTE-FINDING DIFFICULTY?? Could the makers of this map - the National Park Service - not help with that issue? As in: erect some signage. The Valley Loop Trail is a wonderful, underused, meandering trail that roughly outlines the base of the Valley following many of the Valley's first east-west trails and wagon roads. It takes you through large open meadows, forests, alongside the Merced River, and provides jaw-dropping views of Sentinel Rock, Cathedral Rocks, Bridalveil Falls, El Capitan, Three Brothers, and Yosemite Falls. It's also seemingly the least used trail in the Valley. If you dislike the crowds on the more popular trails, try this one, assuming you can find it. Day 1 in Yosemite Valley I chose to hike the Valley Loop Trail but couldn't find it. I set out instead for Lower Yosemite Falls and, when almost there, found signs. Deciding to follow those signs to Mirror Lake I lost my way. I found Mirror Lake but not via the Valley Loop. Day 2, after talking with Park Service people, I learned that this part of the trail is "not as well marked" as the other half of the trail. I set out in a different direction, following the Valley Loop Trail to Bridalveil Falls. From there, I continued to follow the Valley Loop only to wind up dead-ending at an impassable waterway. Guess what? Neither half of the trail is well marked. Retracing my steps, I found myself walking alongside a road for quite a while, with cars whizzing by. Just when I'd grown intolerant of that, the trail made itself apparent again and I was able to follow it all the way out to the Pohono Bridge then back towards El Capitan. A long, lovely meandering hike indeed. Never is the hike here hard but finding and staying on the trail sure can be. With 4+ million people coming into Yosemite annually it's understandable that the National Park Service already feels they're doing everything right but they're not where this trail is concerned. Increased and better signage would get more people to explore the Valley's only "moderate" hiking trail. Until then, pack a lunch and forge ahead with a map and a goal of crossing the Pohono Bridge. You'll be well-rewarded with an off-the-radar hike and a generous loop with no retracing of steps. You'll encounter a few other like-minded souls on your trek but other than that? This is surely the quietest, most peaceful hike in the Valley; one to which I'd happily assign 5 stars if not for the "lack of clear signage" issue.

We had an excellent day with David. We booked a private tour for my wife and me. We are not so…read moreyoung so David tailored it to our pace and abilities (still made it to the top of Sentinel Dome- well worth the effort!). Literally went from the valley floor to the peak of sentinel dome. His knowledge of the park is outstanding. He picked us up at our lodge and dropped us there at the end of the day- even gave us the picnic we couldn't eat during the trip because clouds blocked the astrophotography portion. He even apologized for the clouds! An all day adventure; we were happily exhausted when we got back to Evergreen Lodge. Highly recommend.

Dave is AMAZING! We had the best day with him on our private tour of Yosemite. He is so fun,…read moreknowledgeable, a great conversationalist and made the day fabulous. I had the best time and felt like we got to really see Yosemite and get to know the park. I would 100% recommend booking with him and his company. Hands down the BEST!!

The Four Mile Trail is reviewed as having the best views for a hike from the valley and I agree. It…read morehas the best ROI for views as there are constant changing views of Yosemite Valley and Yosemite Falls. The hike can be difficult at times as much of it is exposed to the sun, so I recommend going as early as possible. We also encountered rattlesnakes going up and coming back down, so it might be good to be cautious during the rocky middle section. Glacier Point at the end of the trail is absolutely beautiful. It has views of all of the major peaks around. There's also a store with cold drinks and snacks to fuel your way back down.

Because Glacier Point Road was closed for construction (all of 2022 unfortunately), there were only…read more3 ways to reach Glacier Point. All 3 are very strenuous and at least 9 miles round trip, but the 4-mile trail is the least intensive. However this is not stroll in the park. My mother and I (between beginner and intermediate in physical ability and hiking experience) hiked from 7am - 2pm round trip. It took us 3.5 hrs to reach Glacier point from the valley (4.6 miles), we spent about an hour at the top, then took another 2.5 hrs to hike down. We stopped often for pictures and short breaks. The views get better along the way, but it probably wasn't until 2 miles into the hike that they became more spectacular and we started taking photos. The trail itself is easy to follow, dry, and easy to descend. It has roughly 3 sets of switchbacks, the 1st which gets you roughly 2 miles in (start of nice views), the 2nd which takes you to Union point (3 miles in, has a descent panoramic view of valley), and the last set which brings you close to glacier point. There aren't really any easier parts of the trail, it's a constant ascent (3200 feet total). It is a tougher trail, but if you start early enough in the day, bring lots of water and snacks, and take breaks when needed, it is do-able. The views at the top make it all worth it!

We went to Yosemite in mid March when Glacier Point Road and Tioga Road were still closed for the…read moresnow season. Tuolumne Grove is located right before the closed section of Tiago Road. The trail was wide which was great for social distancing. The entire path was covered in snow so it was more workout for our 2.5 mile in-and-out trek with 400 feet elevation change. Our experience was rather secluded compared to the crowd factor in the Valley. It was great to admire the enormous size of the trees by ourselves, it made the experience more special and enjoyable.

The Mariposa Grove is currently under construction so we decided to visit Tuolumne. It is about a…read more1.5 hours drive from the south entrance of Yosemite. Parking is limited at the Grove. There are restrooms located at the entrance. The paved trail takes you about 1 mile downhill to the Grove entrance. The trail turns into dirt but is is a very easy hike. The Grove circle is less than 1 mile in length. There are several giant sequoias to view but my favorite was the sequoia with the large tunnel cut out. Short hike and not too many trees to view but it was a fun stop.

Ahhhh such a beautiful lake ... but , did I struggle ugh …read more.... I'm an avid hiker but have been on a hiatus for quite some time and I have been out of the gym for a while and I suffered baaaaddd from it. Sigh. Anyways , you can park your car in a lot by the Tioga gate off 120. The trail head is right there by the Tioga gate . If you are coming from the park ( Yosemite) the trail head is on your left side of the road. It's only a mile to get to the lake but it's a pretty steep inclination and being soooo freaking out of shape right now , I had to take a break every 10-20 steps. I was out of breath , huffing and puffing , light headed and dizzy. Maybe from the high altitudes too . I was gasping for air. I had no problem doing Clouds Rest last year ... ugh. Anyways , the lake itself is stunningly gorgeous. Water is so clear , we saw some trouts gracefully swimming. Snow covered mountains in the background. Nice cool breeze felt good since I was sweating like crazy. There may be about 20 other hikers we saw. Some were struggling like I was climbing up on the way. It's up and then down to the lake. It should be easy peasy for experienced hikers but might be tough if you are a beginner because of the elevation gain but totally doable and totally worth it. The view is amazing all around not just the lake but the view of Mt Dana , Mt Hoffman and other peaks you can see from the trail. If you are out of shape like I am right now, just take your time and go slowly. It's okay , it's not a race. Enjoy the view and the smell and the sound of the mountains:))) ha ha One last thing , tons of mosquitoes when we were there on Saturday (6/23/2018). Highly recommend bug spray. I got tons of bites on my face and legs. Luckily I was wearing a long sleeve shirt so no bites on my arms.

Yawnnnn... A bit on…read morethe boring side for a Back Country hike. The hike starts out with some solid elevation gain, but after 15 minutes of hiking you'll be at the top of the peak and heading down towards Gaylor Lake. The lake is pretty big and beautiful with plenty of fish to be seen swimming in it. Due to the elevation of the lake it is colder than the lower elev lakes. Keep to your right and head up the trail to Upper Gaylor Lake. Not as big and pretty boring there. You can head left over the small mountain and see a few other small lakes on the other side or you can head straight up the trail to the old rock huts and mines and another small lake. After a 10 minute hike from Upper Gaylor Lake you'll crest the top and see several old rock homes. Go on inside and make yourself at home. Can you imagine people used to mine and live up here?! Our ancestors were definitely tougher than we are. Watch out for at least 2 mining holes. They have no warning or barrier around then and appear to be at least 20' deep WITH NO WAY OUT. The views on this trip are average at best. I wouldn't recommend this hike for the following reasons. IF you are coming Westward on the 120, the trailhead is at the Eastern end of the park, which is around 50 miles on Tioga pass road. The views are OK at best, not much too see. If you are coming in from the Eastern end (Highway 395) then it makes sense to check this easy hike off your list and then never speak of it again! There are only like 25+ better hikes off Tioga Road that come to mind. Hope this review helps those considering the hike.