Hiking Over the Mason Valley Earthquake Epicenter: Frank Wright & Miles Wagner of Smith Valley

After the 5.7 (Richter Scale) earthquake in NNE Mason Valley on Monday, December 9, 2024 followed by dozens of aftershocks, two Smith Valley men decided to hike on and around the epicenter on Wednesday.

Frank Wright reported, “We left Smith Valley at noon on Wednesday. The man in the picture is Miles Wagner (with my dog Benji). I call him my Earthquake nerd! He knows everything!”

Frank’s enthusiasm is apparent in his writing: “Have you ever stood ON the epicenter of a good sized earthquake? My earthquake nerd friend Miles Wagner and I both of Smith Valley did yesterday (Wednesday) and while we were there we actually had another small one of 2.5 near Lux. Benji, my dog senses these usually a minute before the earthquake and did yesterday. Just before he went for a swim in the cold Walker River. It was an amazing day and I can assure you we’ll be back in the zone over the next couple of days as the aftershocks continue to roll! I took tons of pictures of the cracks! Pretty cool.”

“Nothing too extreme but there were hundreds of these small cracks near the many aftershocks! Wild!”

Frank went on to say that, “I learned that all earthquakes give out sound… P waves and S waves. Benji apparently can hear P waves that we can’t hence why he alerted before the earthquake hit here in SV. Pretty amazing.”

Reports from Mason Valley locals:

Bonnie Blakely said that in their home they ended up with cracks in the walls & ceiling, pantry shelf items all fell to the floor.

Dennis & Leah Compston had cracks in their interior walls of the home.

Raley’s Market had alot of product that fell of the shelves.

TBone Hammond who was fishing in Wilson Canyon when the 5.7 earthquake hit, witnessed canyon wall rocks falling.