Here is a report from COW member Mark Heuston on his and member Paul Pierson's documentation of abuse and damage caused during the last President's Day weekend.

You can view selected photos from their ground truthing here.

Summary:

Paul Pierson and I spent the day ground truthing the Cleghorn Wilderness Boundary between Shadow Mountain Road and Copper World Mine Road, (CWMR) The Post Homestead and Chadwick Road, and the first 1/4 mile of Gold Crown Road South of Hwy 62. Paul and I hiked 3/4 mile into the Cleghorn Wilderness on the CWMR, and hiked into the Post Homestead site from Chadwick road. Fresh ORV damage was lighter than expected but present at the Cleghorn Wilderness Boundary and Post Homestead locations. Abundant evidence of recent vehicle traffic into wilderness was observed on the CWMR, and recent illegal dumping & shooting evidence was documented within the Cleghorn Wilderness 3/4 mile South of the wilderness boundary. Paul and I carried a bag of trash out of the Cleghorn Wilderness, though much remains. (about a quarter ton truck load)

Although brief, our check of the first 1/4 mile of Gold Crown Road revealed abundant evidence of off - route travel. Paul and I also documented a dead coyote that appeared to have been shot and it's tail removed. Recently discarded trash and broken beer bottles were much in evidence in the area. The full report of our survey follows this summary.

Mark Heuston
February 20, 2007

Post President's Day 2007 ORV Damage Survey, Wonder Valley Area

February 20, 2007 

Mark Heuston
Paul Pierson

Cleghorn Wilderness Boundary E of Shadow Mountain Road:

Photopoints 01, 02, & 03 - Damaged Carsonite boundary sign post propped up against power pole. 
Recent vehicular damage in evidence along a 1/4 mile stretch of Pole line road where a full sized vehicle with street tread tires weaved in and out of wilderness along Poleline Road. Observed fresh quad runner tracks going into wilderness.  GPS Waypoint: Elev. 1383 feet N34 deg. 12' 31.7"  W115 deg. 50' 20.7"

Copper World Mine Road: Extensive evidence on the ground indicates vehicular traffic going into wilderness on CWMR from the South. Traffic sign on CWMR was much heavier that was traffic sign on Poleline Road. Carsonite wilderness boundary markers are completely gone from this location. 
Photopoint 04 - Intersection of Poleline X CWMR looking East.
Photopoint 05 - Intersection of Poleline X CWMR looking Northeast.
Photopoint 06 - CWMR looking South from Wilderness Boundary.

11:47 - Paul and I hiked @ 3/4 mile South from Poleline Road along the CWMR to a turn around area adjoining a wash where we observed recent illegal dumping debris and evidence of shooting.
GPS Waypoint: Elev. 1669 feet N34 deg. 13' 04.7"  W115 deg. 47' 54.4"
Photopoints 07 & 08: Dumped debris and target shooting site.
Photopoint 09: View South along CWMR towards wilderness boundary.

Chadwick Road & Post Homestead: Paul and I parked on Chadwick Road and walked in to the Post Homestead from the North. Significant evidence of recent vehicular traffic into the Post Homestead site along this North branch road.
Photopoint 10 - 13:15 - Fresh Dirtbike tracks totally off route going West from route.
GPS Waypoint: Elev. 1204 feet N34 deg. 08' 58.6"  W115 deg. 46' 29.3"
Photopoint 11 & 12 - Track detail on North branch route into Post Homestead.

13:24 - Observed fresh quad runner tracks going due East from North branch route and 200 feet North of the Post Homestead ruins.

Photopoint 13 & 14 - Fresh quad tracks going around route barricades, past route closure signs, and into dunes to the Southwest of the Post Homestead ruins.

Photopoint 15 & 16 - quad tracks going into and under trees surrounding the Post Homestead ruins. This rider circled repeatedly, driving within 20 feet of the adobe walls of the ruins. Most of the fresh ORV tracks observed in the vicinity of the Post Homestead ruins today appear to be attributable to this one individual.

Photopoint 17 - Detail of above tracks.

Photopoints 18 - Lost data.

Photopoint 19 - 14:07 - Posted wash crossing on Chadwick Road Where Phil and Bob observed off - route violations by TSEP permitters on ORVs. View looking East at fresh dirt bike tracks past route closure posting. (both route closure markers still intact)

Gold Crown Road East of Hwy 62:

Photopoints 20, 21, & 22 - 14:30 - Horned lizard in context with fresh off route vehicle tracks showing wildlife at risk. Location 20 feet West of Gold Crown Road and 1/4 mile South of Hwy 62.

Photopoint 23 - Fresh off route tracks looking West from Gold Crown Road near above location.

14:35 - Extensive off route tracks @ 100 yards West of GCR. Trash and broken beer bottles in area. Observed dead coyote at same location. Coyote appeared to be a mature male in good physical condition; cause of death may be due to gunshot wounds observed in upper body and left rear leg. Tail has been removed from the body. No scavenger damage visible; animal appears to have deceased within last two to three days.
GPS Waypoint: Elev. 1289 feet N 34 deg. 07' 06.4"  W 115 deg. 47' 06.9"

Photopoint 24 - Dead coyote with fresh off route tracks looking South.

Photopoint 25 & 26 - Close up of dead coyote.

Photopoint 27 - Dead coyote with fresh off route tracks looking Southeast.

15:00 hrs - End of survey.