This adventure takes place in the butcher jones OHV area. I arrived around noon on Saturday in the area and parked my Prius at a lot near saguaro lake. Then I hopped onto my ebike and rode up the road til I found the Butcher Jones OHV launch site. There is a dirt lot that is sparsely filled with trucks, jeeps, and other off-road vehicles. Riding through I went, I turned downhill and followed a sandy wash. The sand was thick and challenging for my bee cool adventure to handle. Jeeps and dune buggies passed me a number of times. People were friendly, and one even stopped to ask questions about my bike. The area is clearly popular with the off-roading community, and the trails are well-suited for gas-powered vehicles. It was a great space to safely test my ebike for wild photography adventures.
On this trip, I came in fully prepared to take pictures. I had strapped a milk crate and a pelican case to the back of the bike. The crate was stuffed with the basic day hiking gear, a camo tarp, and a ghillie suit. My pelican case carried my hex satchel with my gh5, telephoto 100-400mm, and my pancake 14mm lenses. I also had my peak design tripod at the bottom of the case. Everything was strapped down with two bungee cords and a tension wrap. I quickly learned the danger of having a top-heavy load while making turns in the sand and figured out a suitable configuration after several spills. Don’t stack! Spread out the weight along the rack. My trip eventually started being less of a tumble, and I got to explore the desert more.
The trail eventually took me uphill, and the sand disappeared, leaving me with rocky cracks to navigate. It was delightful. I zoomed my way across the hill. I ended up traversing it twice because my ghillie suit got caught on a tree unannounced to me, and once I realized it was gone, I traced my steps back to find it. It didn’t take long, and a pair of dirt bikers held it up for me once I made my way to them. I then threaded the tension wrap through the straps of each piece of gear before I tightened it down. A good lesson to learn when using an open crate to transport gear.
The last segment of my trip would be when I decided to descend the far side of the hill into a canyon wash split between two ridges. The wash flowed down towards saguaro lake and ended a couple hundred yards from where I parked my car.
This wash is a sand pit. Going downhill was a struggle, but going uphill was a nightmare. My lack of experience played into my struggle, but it was humbling. Eventually, I accepted my fate and started pushing the bike, walking beside it. I spent the sunset watching a saguaro with a nest in it with the hope an owl would appear as the light faded, but eventually, the light faded, and I made my way through the dark toward the bottom of the wash. While traveling through the sand at night was not the most enjoyable experience, it was ethereal for the distant city glows on the cusp of the surrounding hills serving as my guide. Eventually, around 8:00 pm, I made it back to my car.
@pwk_vlog This is my beecool #adventure fat tire #ebike. I’m posting to show the journey with #outdoor #photography. Also educate where you can ride these 70+ pound bikes. This trail is very popular for off road vehicles, lots of 4Runners and jeeps passed me but I still enough space for me. The top of the hill is the best part. The bikes can handles bumps well but the sand in the wash was a bit of a struggle. I am carrying +20 pounds gear in the hope I find spots to do wildlife #photography ♬ Company background music – TimTaj
@pwk_vlogMy thoughts this Saturday walking/ridding/pushing/pulling my fat tire ebike in a sandy wash after trying to find some horned owls.♬ original sound – Morgan Morse
Overall I would rate the experience on my sixty-point scale as: 32/60
How repeatable is this adventure? 3/10
I would probably only do this adventure once or twice a year. It wasn’t a very scenic route, and I think I would explore a new area rather than return to this spot.
Opportunity to meet wildlife photography 2/10
The traffic of loud motor vehicles makes the likely hood of finding animals pretty slim. I would not come back to this location to see animals.
HOW ACCESSIBLE IS THE SALT RIVER (9/10)
The launch site is right off the freeway. Any vehicle could make it to this spot. Not friendly to the handicapped community.
HOW DIFFICULT WAS IT TO RIDE THE ELECTRIC BIKE (7/10)
The hill section was acceptable, but the sand could have been easier.
HOW SECLUDED IS THE AREA (3/10)
There were a lot of vehicles, and I saw someone every thirty minutes, even when I was an hour out from the trailhead. Don’t go here to be alone.
HOW SAFE IS THE AREA? (8/10)
The area is relatively safe because the community will help you if you encounter any problems. The first question people ask when they see you is if you need any help. The people who explore this area adopt a friendly and inviting attitude.
