Our Commitment to Real Change

Recently ResponsibleTravel.com, a leading world wide travel agent, made the decision to abandon their Carbon offset program sighting the importance of making real changes rather than purchasing offsets. Years ago Holiday Expeditions opted not to follow the popular “offset” trend, but rather to champion the individual and the company’s creativity and willingness to change. True change can only happen through the act of reducing and reusing in your day to day practices.

Our rafting and biking trip guests get to see and experience the examples of our efforts to make real change when they meet us at our headquarters in Green River and Vernal, UT. This summer we installed a new rain gutter system to increase efforts to capture rain water for grey water use. We already had one grey water system in place but saw this as yet one more opportunity to conserve and cut back on traditional, local water consumption. Overall water use was cut by 8% in a year that we actually did more business. Water wise native landscaping, making our own ice efficiently, more infrequent van washing and new front load water saving washing machines are also included in our everyday efforts. The challenge is on going but we feel we’re up to it and making real changes one step at a time.

Getting Involved

If you have taken a trip with us in the last two years on the Green River then you were most likely petitioned to fill out a card and express why you think the Green River should be added to the Wild and Scenic River status. Easy to do when you have just come off a trip on this magnificent river. We then gather and send them off to our Governor in hopes that someone is listening! Our founder, Dee Holladay is the force behind our continued activism towards the protection of the resources we share with our guests. It is his passion, our company’s mission and a vision we hope to share with all of you.

In a statement by the Utah Rivers Council:

Support Utah's Wild and Scenic Rivers, especially the entire Green River!

Wild and Scenic Rivers status protects rivers from new dams and diversions…forever. In addition, the outstanding values for which Wild and Scenic Rivers are designated – from historical sites to recreational activities to wildlife habitat – are protected. Despite the fact that Utah has amazing rivers, ranging from serene flat water to raging rapids and from high mountain streams to rivers passing through a red rock world, Utah has absolutely zero Wild and Scenic Rivers.

By the end of this year the Bureau of Land Management and Forest Service will be making their final recommendations about which of Utah’s outstanding rivers should become Wild and Scenic Rivers, including the Green, Colorado, San Juan, and Logan.

The BLM recently released a plan that proposes a 40 mile stretch of the Green River just north and south of the town of Green River should not become a Wild and Scenic River. Please speak out against this travesty and encourage our decision makers to urge the BLM to recommend the entire Green River and the rest of Utah’s outstanding rivers becoming Wild and Scenic Rivers.

For the most recent information and press releases check out:
Utah Rivers Council protect - restore - explore

Wild Places & Renewal to the Human Spirit

A recent comment we've had on our rafting trips came from a guest from England. His comment reinforced my commitment to staying green, promoting the preservation of wild places, keeping our staff well trained and the equipment in perfect condition.

'We came from the UK to spend 2 weeks in Utah. We spent a week in Zion and then headed East for our rafting trip. It was a highlight of the holiday, especially as we lay in our sleeping bags on the first night, in a long line, counting shooting stars. Totally memorable. Thank you for a really brilliant rafting trip. I would love to think we will be back sometime and we would definitely recommend you to our friends.' John Denham, United Kingdom

If we weren't able to keep our pristine natural attractions the way they are, what kind of economy would Utah have? And with the advent of computers and the internet, we can promote ourselves without traditional media, and our impact on the natural resources of the state are kept to a minimum.