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
Elevation11,321 ft (3,451 m) NAVD 88[1]
Prominence1,080 ft (329 m)[2]
Coordinates40°37′19″N 115°23′34″W / 40.621966°N 115.392822°W / 40.621966; -115.392822[1]
Geography
Thomas Peak is located in Nevada
Thomas Peak
Thomas Peak
LocationElko County, Nevada, U.S.
Parent rangeRuby Mountains
Topo mapUSGS Ruby Dome
Climbing
Easiest routeFrom 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

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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

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360-degree panorama from the summit of Thomas Peak

References

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  1. ^ a b "THOMAS". NGS Data Sheet. National Geodetic Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Department of Commerce. Retrieved 2014-10-14.
  2. ^ a b "Thomas Peak, Nevada". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  3. ^ "Thomas Peak". SummitPost.org. Retrieved 2014-11-12.
  4. ^ "Nevada 11,000-foot Peaks". Peakbagger.com. Retrieved 2014-10-22.
  5. ^ "What's in a Name?". Howard Hickson'S Histories. Great Basin College. Retrieved 2014-01-28.
  6. ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University. Retrieved October 7, 2023. To find the table data on the PRISM website, start by clicking Coordinates (under Location); copy Latitude and Longitude figures from top of table; click Zoom to location; click Precipitation, Minimum temp, Mean temp, Maximum temp; click 30-year normals, 1991-2020; click 800m; click Retrieve Time Series button.
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