Thomas Peak Explained

Thomas Peak
Elevation Ft:11321
Elevation Ref:[1]
Prominence:1080feet
Prominence Ref:[2]
Location:Elko County, Nevada, U.S.
Range:Ruby Mountains
Map:Nevada
Map Size:160
Coordinates:40.622°N -115.3928°W
Topo:USGS Ruby Dome
Easiest Route:From Island Lake, Class 2 scramble north up an avalanche chute and then west along the ridgeline[3]

Thomas Peak is the second highest named mountain in both the Ruby Mountains and Elko County, in Nevada, United States. It is the thirty-fourth highest mountain in the state.[4] The peak is located about 24miles southeast of the city of Elko in the Ruby Mountains Wilderness, within the Ruby Mountains Ranger District of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest.[2] One of the most voluminous mountains in the range, its base makes up most of the east wall of Thomas Canyon, as well as the west wall of the long curved section of upper Lamoille Canyon.

Thomas Peak and the adjacent canyon and campground is named after Raymond Thomas, a teacher at Elko High School, who led a group of hikers into the canyon in October 1916. Caught in an early snowstorm, he died while assisting his party until rescuers could arrive.[5]

Notes and References

  1. AH9367 . THOMAS . 2014-10-14.
  2. 3522 . Thomas Peak, Nevada . 2014-01-28.
  3. 827164 . Thomas Peak . 2014-11-12.
  4. 21324 . Nevada 11,000-foot Peaks . 2014-10-22.
  5. Book: http://www.gbcnv.edu/howh/names.html . Howard Hickson'S Histories . What's in a Name? . Great Basin College . 2014-01-28 .