Private Guided Hiking Tour in Yosemite

We appreciate all feedback, but this reviewer should be disappointed that they did not read our trip descriptions correctly. Only our Strenuous Hike leads to the top of Upper Yosemite Fall. Further, our guide recognized the perceived disappointment and offered to take the group to the top of Yosemite Falls anyway. For whatever reason, this reviewer declined the offer and would rather leave a negative review as a way of dealing with buyer's remorse for paying for a private tour. Below are the trip descriptions for the Intermediate and Strenuous versions of the Yosemite Falls hikes: Intermediate Yosemite Falls and Western Yosemite Valley Begin your morning hiking up steep switchbacks (1000 feet in 1 mile) to one of the most breathtaking views you can ever imagine. After standing face to face with the Upper Yosemite Fall, the hard part of your day will be complete, and you will spend the rest of the hike wandering around the western end of Yosemite Valley photographing along the Merced River. Distance: 6 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 1000 feet Time: 6 hours Water Requirements: 60 ounces Best time to visit: October-June Strenuous Upper Yosemite Fall Ascend Yosemite’s tallest waterfall and feel the rush of 2400 gallons of water per second as it leaps and crashes onto a ledge 1430 feet below and falls twice more before it finally feeds into the Merced River. From the Valley, we will first visit the base of the lower fall. Then we will hike along the famous switchbacks of the North Rim Wall and gain 3000 feet over the next 3.5 miles. Views of the Valley Floor are incomparable, and we will witness the face of Half Dome from several different perspectives. This trail has two very steep sections where we will gain 1000 feet in its first mile. After reaching the top of the Falls, we will have the option to complete the journey to Yosemite Point at 6,936 feet above sea level. Distance: 8-10 miles roundtrip Elevation Gain: 3000 feet Time: 7 hours Water Requirements: 100 ounces Best time to visit: October-June

Ivette Santaella, the owner of Santaella Legal Group in San Ramon, CA, hired YExplore for a private guided hiking tour in Yosemite National Park on April 24, 2021. Ivette called our business on April 22 with a very belligerent tone and demanded that we provide a free lunch for the tour. Santaella stated that their hotel offered a (non private) tour with a free lunch for "much less money". Ivette then accused YExplore of "false advertising" and attacked my character stating I was "taking advantage" of Yosemite visitors. When I asked for her to show proof of the "free lunch advertising" she saw, Santaella was silent and could produce nothing to support the claim. Ivette still had the option to cancel the tour after the conversation but chose to continue with the booking.  Ivette, her son, and one other friend booked an Intermediate Yosemite Falls tour that travels on the Upper Yosemite Fall Trail and around the Valley floor. It is a tour that typically lasts approximately 5 hours. Her tour was to begin at 8am and end around 1pm. Her guide's next assignment was to begin at 1:30 pm to accommodate another group affected by an incoming snowstorm so there was no conflict at all. This is just one of Ivette's untruthful statements in the review. Ivette emailed YExplore on the morning of April 24 because she was going to be late to the tour. The group did arrive late for the tour, but the guide remained at the meeting location to accommodate them. Ivette's son immediately apologized to the guide.  While on the way to Columbia Rock up a very steep rocky trail, our guide witnessed Ivette Santaella, her son, and her son's friend eating an edible gummy controlled substance during a snack break. Despite the guide's warning, they each ate their gummy and admitted it was a recreational drug. Almost immediately after that, Ms. Santaella's condition to complete the hike declined rapidly. The guide described her as "staggering and walking like an infant". The group requested and were granted an extraordinary amount of rest breaks for under three miles of hiking. Ms Sanatella's physical condition was so bad that she had to be helped down the steep trail by her son as they were forced to take many more rest stops. After another extended break on the floor of Yosemite Valley, Ivette got up and informed the guide that she wished to end the tour. It was much earlier than the 1pm end time. Santaella's action to terminate the tour was voluntary so her statement in this review and her characterization of our guide's comments to her are patently false.  Since the tour ended, Ms. Santaella has been smearing our company on every review site she can find. After reading the first fabricated review, we contacted the guide to give her account of the day. We received the guide's shocking report and contacted Ms. Santaella immediately. We requested that Santaella withdraw the negative review, and that we wished for an amicable resolution to this issue. Santaella then offered "If you want to pro rate the fees I will consider updating my review." When we declined, Ivette only grew more combative. We asked why someone would want to cause so much damage to the reputation of a small family run business who has suffered inconceivable economic hardship in the past two years during park shutdowns and lack of ability to work while enduring a global pandemic. But Santaella was uncaring and even vindictive. It is unfortunate that small businesses are subject to the type of people who believe they can inflict harm on their ability to earn a living because the disgruntled guest felt like they overpaid for their trip. I will not let that happen to YExplore and will defend our reputation vigorously. The incident on the trail was reported to the authorities of Yosemite National Park. John P. DeGrazio YExplore Owner

Thank you for your kind review. We appreciated you joining us for your tour and were very happy to customize it for you. Many thanks.

Thank you so much for joining us for a tour, Darlene. We appreciate your kind words and are glad you had a positive experience.

Thank you so much for your positive words. We are glad you had such a wonderful experience in Yosemite.

Thank you for your kind words about Ashley, Doris. We are glad you were able to appreciate your time in Yosemite and that you made a new friend.

Thank you for recommending our Yosemite tours. We are pleased that you had a positive experience.