Kristin and Aaron Wedding

Despite a windy spring day, Aaron and Kristin had a beautiful wedding with lots of great friends. Congratulations you two!!

My Weekend Field Trip

I've seem to have caught a fever lately. You might call it the "Spring Fever". I've been trudging around in several feet of snow for the past 5 months. It's been getting kind of old, and I'm ready for some new scenery.

Last week, I woke up at 3am on my day off to drive to Sand Dunes National Park. I arrived just in time to see the sunrise over the Sangre de Cristo Mountains and the dunes. The rest of the day was spent napping and reading a book in my hammock. It was nice to finally get a chance to relax and enjoy the peace of the wilderness.

The following day, I leisurely made my way back to Summit. My first stop was at the Alligator Farm, just outside of Alamosa. I had heard of the place for many years, and seen it countless times on my previous trips to the dunes. Fifteen years later, I finally stopped to see what all of the rave was about.

Alligator Farm is the ultimate field trip!! Yes, I am 29 years old, and yes, I was by myself. So, what? What did you do last week? Well, I got to hold an alligator named Capone, cause a feeding frenzy, hang out in the bio-dome, and I may or may not have gotten spooked when the gators thrashed around when I got too close.

Did I mention the UFO Watch Tower across the street?

Next stop, was a short hike to a waterfall outside of Buena Vista. Didn't get too many good photos there, but I still enjoyed the hike.

After the hike, I stopped by the Princeton Hot Springs. There are 2 pools on the upper deck, but I opted to hangout in the creekside springs. It looks kind of relaxing, doesn't it? That's probably because it is. This is the part where you become a little envious over my weekend.

While I was at the springs, I met some new friends. One of which was the head warden at the state penitentiary. After talking for a while, I learned from my new friends that my Joshua means "salvation" in Hebrew. My first name is also the English interpretation of Jesus. My last name Schutz means "protector" in German. So I guess that makes my name Salvation Protector. Sounds prestigious doesn't it?

Whenever I get the chance to do exciting things on my days off from work, I do it. And now that I've caught the Spring Fever, I'm more motivated to get out do these things. If you want to do something fun on your day off, let me know. I always enjoy company on my adventures.

The only catch is, you have to be willing to be my subject for some photos. No big deal really. Just a couple shots here and there. It will be fun, I promise.

Aspen Canyon Ranch

 I recently got the chance to work with some close friends at Aspen Canyon Ranch in Grand County. Ryan, Jojo and a number of other summertime raft guides have spent this past winter renovating a dude ranch just outside of Summit County. Most of these guys have been river guides and snowmobile guides for 10 years or more. They are very reputable and experienced in their field. 

 Anyways, Ryan called me a few weeks ago, wanting me to take some photos for their new website. A website, that just happens to be designed by another close friend, Ryan. I jumped on the chance to get to work with this group of friends. I couldn't think of a better assignment. Snowmobiling on bluebird days with a bunch of friends. Ummm, yes!

 

So these are the photos that resulted in my time at Aspen Canyon Ranch. If the photos don't speak for themselves, be sure to check out their new website at AspenCanyon.com If you are ever looking for an adventure in or around the Summit County area. Look no farther. The guys at Aspen Canyon Ranch will be sure to show you a good time.

 

The Things I've Seen: 365

I try and take at least one photo a day. But I usually succumb to the forces of vocational office work, and fail to follow through with my goal. But with my recent acquisition of a new Canon G12, thanks to my family. This goal has become achievable.

I have always wanted to do a 365 Project. And like I said before, I have failed many times before. But this year I plan on changing that. In, 2011 I plan to take at least one photo for 365 days. Errrr, maybe it’s 366? Is it a leap year?

Either way, I am setting a goal for myself, to take at least one photo per day. Today is #28, and to date, I have kept my word. I was a bit afraid that I wouldn’t follow through. But #28, so far so good.

With my 365 Project, you will be able to see things the way that I see them. You will be able to live vicariously through me, and see what I see. Actually it kinda creeps me out. Especially after looking through the past 28 days photos. You get to see the highlights of my days, for an entire year.

I will post process my photos. There will be days where I take more photos than others. And there will be days where certain photos resemble others. But it doesn’t matter. My goal here is to let you see things the way that I see them. So take it as it is. Enjoy it, hate it, critique it, comment it. Because this is me for the next 365.

Please visit joshschutz.tumblr.com  to view this continuing project.

How about some snow? Because we have had a lot of it this winter in Summit County.

Christmas at Copper Mountain. You can find this photo plastered all over Copper Mountain in promotion of En Fuego.

A wedding at Keystone's Ski Tip Lodge.