Grant Bishop
Tour Guide/Hiking Guide
“Ask me about the time when my guests and I saw a wedding in the sky.” – Grant
I grew up in Southern California where I lived with my parents. We would come to the Yosemite area in the summers to camp, fish and hike. We loved it so much, the day after my high school graduation we moved here.
I have spent a lot of time hiking in Yosemite as well as in North Fork, Mammoth Pools and on the Scenic Byway. I enjoy reading books about Yosemite and it has been great working with Discover Yosemite because I love to share what I learn with my guests. My favorite area to explore and share is near El Capitan.
Chad Davis
Tour Guide
“Ask me about my several bear encounters! Especially the one while listening to Star Wars audio books in the Valley!” – Chad
Born and raised in Sanger, CA, we always had a view of the Sierra from our backyard. Watching every sunrise crest over the peaks in the distance, I’ve always been entranced by the beauty of our local mountains. My parents would often take us camping, and I’d wander the forest, lost in my daydreams, wondering about the history of where I stood. From prehistoric reptiles roaming through the trees, to the local indigenous groups caravaning across the mountainsides. What stories had taken place here? What lives had been fully lived? What legacies, if any, had been passed on? My curiosity has pushed me to learn as much as I can about the geological events that crafted this valley, the fauna that have lived off of this land, the many different types of flora and their vast uses, and the histories and cultures of those that lived here for thousands of years before the first Anglo-American pioneer ever stepped foot on this side of the continent.
Always experiencing beauty all around me, I often have a camera in hand. Even tried my hand at taking photos of people for a time, where I met my wife, who is a prolific wedding and elopement photographer that often shoots in Yosemite. So even on my days off, I am in the valley, exploring the cliffsides with her and her clients, capturing some of the most amazing photos in areas of Yosemite that few people know of. (I even share some of these secret spots with folks on my private tours).
I am a firm believer in the saying “You’re only as interesting as you are interested.” And as a complete nerd of science fiction, faith, and history, I have so much that I’m excited to share, and my guests often share in my excitement by the end of our journey together! So, get excited, ask questions, and be ready to Discover Yosemite together!
Marsha Eason
Tour Guide/Story Teller
“Ask me about my back country trip out of Cedar Grove, where a bear followed us from camp site to camp site.” – Marsha
I was fortunate enough to grow up with grandparents and parents who worked in, lived in and loved the Sierra Nevada Mountain range.
My grandfather, Herbert E. Wilson, was the author of a book called The Lore and the Lure of Yosemite. He was a naturalist and story teller and participated in the memorable fire falls at Curry Village.
I was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Three Rivers, which sits at the base of Sequoia National Park. I was introduced to the back country of the Sierra by my father, who was a packer in his youth and owner/operator of Horse Corral Pack Station. Vacations were trips to the high country where the days were spent hiking, fly fishing and learning about the many mysteries of Mother Nature.
In 1999, after working in the medical field for 20 years, my husband Wayne and I decided to return to the mountains we grew up in. I have been guiding visitors through the wonder of Yosemite ever since. I love sharing both my experiences of these mountains and the history of the people that were here long before us. The beauty is here for all to see, but it doesn’t mean anything unless you hear the story. I reside in O’Neals, below the South Gate of Yosemite and on the Scenic Byway.
Jeff Gooch
Tour Guide/Hiking Guide
“Whether you’re looking to see Yosemite’s classic views or spend the whole day in the backcountry, I’d love to take share Yosemite with you.” – Jeff
40 years ago, I was very lucky to have been born in Central Valley Fresno where this beautiful landmark is just a short drive away. In 2011 I moved to Coarsegold to further enjoy the mountain life and gain as much knowledge as possible. Nothing makes me happier than to share my love for beautiful Yosemite with others.
I believe everyone should experience this magical part of the world. A place to come and recharge your internal battery while taking in all the wonderful landscape.
Come and discover Yosemite with me.
Phil Ireland
Tour Guide/Hiking Guide/Photographer
In my first month in the newsroom as a cub print reporter in 1994, I overheard a few photographers and a reporter talking about their plan for an upcoming Sierra backpack. I sidled up and jumped in – because, well, that’s what I do. “Yes” is my standard answer. It’s landed me in me trouble a few times. But way more often than not, YES! leads to something new, challenging, exciting and fun. I said yes to those ink-stained wretches in 1994 and ever since, we’ve been traipsing up and down mountains, diving into frigid high mountain lakes, taking photos and making videos, telling stories and always laughing. Our kids grew up together, our dogs have jousted, our friendships and our lives have intertwined like the roots of the Giant Sequoia.
As a writer, poet, educator, journalist, spoken word dilettante, photographer, video producer and tour guide, communication is the thread that binds my life. Storytelling is my very breath. So, in our tours you can expect to hear stories of this magnificent place called Yosemite; bear encounters, fish stories, flora and fauna, the region’s history, its people – both ancient and modern. You’ll get the local knowledge on places to explore, hikes off the beaten path, hidden waterfalls, places to eat. Bring your questions!
My favorite adventurers now are my kids and we have fun exploring new places together.
I turned my love for nature and need to explore into sharing my excitement for Yosemite with by doing tours. I love that I can finally call Yosemite my office.
Rick Miles
Tour Guide/Hiking Guide/Photographer
I am a native Californian whose grandparents first came to the Yosemite area in the early 1940’s. I grew up skiing in Yosemite and have over 35 years of experience exploring and backpacking extensively in the Yosemite and southern Sierra Nevada backcountry. I also have a strong classic photography background having studied Ansel Adams’ Zone System and producing his own silver gelatin photographs as a way to share his experiences.
Shon Nelson
Tour Guide
“Ask me about my connection to the Queen of England’s Visit to Yosemite in 1983.” – Shon
I was born in Fresno and raised mostly in CA. I spent most of my adult life living and working in the Central Valley of CA working in real estate and the beauty industry. I have always loved the outdoors. As an infant my parents took me in a pack hiking up the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls. Thus began my love for Yosemite. I spent summers playing in the Merced River and camping in “House Keeping” campground in Yosemite Valley with my grandma and cousins. One of my favorite things to do is to take friends and family hiking to the top of Half Dome. My joy is to share my deep appreciation for nature and the magnificent natural wonder of Yosemite with guests who are experiencing it for their first time or seasoned returning enthusiasts! and find being a tour guide to be one of my many passions!
I am a “Pathways of Light” minister, a certified holistic life coach and a graduate of the International Tour Management Institute. In my free time you might catch me hanging with my dogs Chloe and Spirit, paddle boarding down the Merced River or laying in my hammock reading “A Course In Miracles.” The writings of John Muir really speak to me as John Muir just saw “God” everywhere he looked in Yosemite!
“I only went out for a walk, and finally concluded to stay out till sundown, for going out, I found was really going in.” ~John Muir
George Radonovich
Tour Guide
I’ve seen Yosemite 1,000 times, but I still get wide eyed and awed with my first view of El Capitan and Bridalveil Falls as you enter the Valley.
I was born and raised just outside Yosemite in the small town of Mariposa. My love for Yosemite began in my high school years with classmates who had the privilege of living in Yosemite Valley. We would spend summers swimming the Merced River and winters at Badger Pass. We even had our high school prom at the Ahwahnee Hotel.
Because I live nearby, I use Yosemite as my gym and the steep trails are my stair climbers. Over the years I’ve backpacked the Yosemite high country and recently finished the famous John Muir Trail, a 210 mile trek across the High Sierra from Yosemite to Mt. Whitney.
In all the world I have never seen so many stunning and iconic features, waterfalls and steep granite monoliths and massive trees so perfectly placed in one setting.
For me, it is truly an honor to share this national treasure with you
Jarrett Smith
Tour Guide/Hiking Guide
I grew up in Clovis, California with a grand view of the Sierra Nevada Mountain Range. Luckily my dad grew up in these mountains so he and my mom would take me and my sister on adventures whenever they could. We explored in every way possible but hiking was always my favorite activity especially in Yosemite. We went on a hike to the top of Yosemite Falls when I was 13 and that got me hooked! By the time I turned 16 and acquired my driver’s license, my friends and I were taking our own adventures to the mountains.
In my early 20s I began backpacking and became obsessed with navigating deeper into the high country that I called my back yard. In 2005 I did an internship for college at a mountain resort near Yosemite and have called the mountains my home ever since.
My favorite adventurers now are my kids and we have fun exploring new places together.
I turned my love for nature and need to explore into sharing my excitement for Yosemite with by doing tours. I love that I can finally call Yosemite my office.
Saul Singleton
Happy Retirement!
Koki Bishop
Fleet Manager
Koki grew up in a town named Covina in Southern California. She and her husband fell in love with the Mariposa/Oakhurst area while visiting friends who had moved here. They bought a vacation home; then decided to move here full time in 1987.
She became a school bus driver, driving 89-passenger school buses on the winding Mariposa roads. With over 20 years experience with buses, she brings that experience to maintaining our fleet in the best condition through rigorous maintenance schedules, daily cleaning and meticulous records. She puts a high priority on safety, comfort and cleanliness and that translates to exceptional tours for our guests.
Dana Richter-Vint
Reservation Specialist/Graphic Designer
I have been fortunate enough to be raised in the Sierra Nevada Mountains just a bus ride away from Yosemite National Park. As the daughter of a tour company founder I had the pleasure of spending my summers and school vacations in Yosemite. Even as a child the sights were awe-inspiring. I was able to learn many facts about Yosemite and different clues to remember these facts.
I learned how to ski in the park at Badger Pass, starting on Turtle, the bunny slope, at age 6 and racing past my mother not long after that. P.E. classes throughout grammar school included ski lessons at Badger once a week. I also have great memories of field trips to Yosemite and doing many school projects about the park. I have chosen to stay in this area to raise my son in the same surroundings that I love so much.
As a graphic designer I was given the opportunity to design the website for this company. It has brought back many memories from my childhood. I am excited to get back on a tour and Discover Yosemite once again. I will also be working the reservation desk and will be happy to answer any questions you may have.
Jennifer Swartz
Reservation Specialist
Have you ever hiked along a mountain trail early on a crisp April morning, hundreds of feet above a river rushing through the rocky canyon below, just to catch a glimpse of springtime dew drops gracing the delicate petals of a wildflower?
Or when was the last time you camped among the pines to watch the moon rise above lonely, rugged mountain peaks? Can you picture yourself leaning back against a rock, to do nothing for the next hour except close your eyes and listen to the great symphony of nature?
I have lived in the Yosemite area for thirty-one years, and some of my most vivid memories come from times my family and I spent in our beautiful, majestic Yosemite National Park– hiking the waterfalls, picnicking in grassy meadows, and breathing in the clean air and refreshing smells of the great outdoors.
These memories have given me an appreciation of Yosemite that I love sharing with others. With ten years experience in customer service and the tourism industries, I can’t wait to take your call and make your reservation for a trip you’ll never forget as you DISCOVER YOSEMITE.