Thomas Peak

For the mountain in Antarctica, see Thomas Peak (Antarctica).

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 24 miles (39 km) 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
Thomas Peak, viewed from Verdi Peak
Highest point
Elevation	11,321 ft (3,451 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence	1,080 ft (329 m)[2]
Coordinates	40°37′19″N 115°23′34″W[1]
Geography
Thomas Peak
Location	Elko County, Nevada, U.S.
Parent range	Ruby Mountains
Topo map	USGS Ruby Dome
Climbing
Easiest route	From Island Lake, Class 2 scramble north up an avalanche chute and then west along the ridgeline[3]

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]

Climate

Climate data for Thomas Peak 40.6235 N, 115.3910 W, Elevation: 10,820 ft (3,300 m) (1991–2020 normals)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °F (°C)	28.1 (−2.2)	27.8 (−2.3)	32.7 (0.4)	35.9 (2.2)	45.0 (7.2)	56.4 (13.6)	66.6 (19.2)	65.6 (18.7)	57.0 (13.9)	44.5 (6.9)	34.1 (1.2)	27.5 (−2.5)	43.4 (6.4)
Daily mean °F (°C)	19.6 (−6.9)	18.7 (−7.4)	22.7 (−5.2)	26.1 (−3.3)	34.8 (1.6)	45.2 (7.3)	54.6 (12.6)	53.6 (12.0)	45.4 (7.4)	34.6 (1.4)	25.4 (−3.7)	19.2 (−7.1)	33.3 (0.7)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C)	11.1 (−11.6)	9.5 (−12.5)	12.7 (−10.7)	16.2 (−8.8)	24.6 (−4.1)	33.9 (1.1)	42.6 (5.9)	41.6 (5.3)	33.9 (1.1)	24.8 (−4.0)	16.7 (−8.5)	10.9 (−11.7)	23.2 (−4.9)
Average precipitation inches (mm)	7.39 (188)	4.49 (114)	4.69 (119)	5.46 (139)	4.74 (120)	2.15 (55)	0.82 (21)	0.92 (23)	1.96 (50)	3.07 (78)	4.31 (109)	6.02 (153)	46.02 (1,169)
Source: PRISM Climate Group[6]

Summit panorama

360-degree panorama from the summit of Thomas Peak