Onthank Peak via Thomas Creek Trail in Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Hike Onthank Peak via Thomas Creek Trail Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV

Class 2 7.9 miles 3300 gain 4-6 hrs Out + Back Sep 14, 2023
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

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Onthank Peak is a minor summit in the Ruby Mountains that separates Lamoille Canyon Right Fork from Thomas Canyon. I had a short mountain play day due to my incredibly super important county fair plans with friends in SLC, so this felt like a reasonable goal even though there were a bunch of question marks along my intended route. I decided to try to reach Onthank Peak by taking the Thomas Creek Trail because I’d never taken that trail before. Based on topo maps, it seemed like its southern ridge would be my ticket, and the trail leads most of the way there. You could likely also access the ridge from the west by taking the Right Fork Trail, which is how we’d accessed Mount Gilbert a year before. I parked at a trailhead intended for dayhikers just outside of the Thomas Canyon Campground, then walked along the pavement until I located the small sign indicating the beginning of the Thomas Creek Trail.

It was a quick hike along the gorgeous, well-maintained trail, beginning with a set of wooden stairs leading out of the forested campground and up into the expansive and meadowy canyon. The far reaches of Onthank Peak were immediately visible, its face ridiculously steep and complex. Early on and just off the trail, there are a couple of small waterfalls as well as a beautifully sculpted stretch of eroded granite carved by Thomas Creek. This is ostensibly where most people complete their hike since past here the trail becomes more narrow and there aren’t any more wooden stairs to assist in steeper portions. Often the Thomas Creek Trail parallels the flowing water, and the scenery was fantastic. Overall the trail climbed gradually, with one steep exception. My smile only widened as Mount Fitzgerald and Snow Lake Peak crested the horizon, a pair of classic Ruby 11ers to the south.

I passed a waterfall plummeting off a small cliff and entered a wide meadow, where the trail officially ended at a sludgy-looking pond within the basin just east of Onthank Peak. On other occasions in the Ruby Mountains, the lack of a trail often meant a pretty hefty bushwhack. I was a bit scared of what I’d encounter at the end of the Thomas Creek Trail, but fortunately, I was surrounded by an open meadow and had a clear line of sight toward my proposed route up the slope to the south. I could trace a potential route that would avoid brush and small cliffies. So far, so good. Unexpectedly, a social trail continued south through the meadow and ultimately ended at a small creek. Keeping to the right, I managed to avoid substantial brush on the banks of the creek by taking a grassy hump up to the base of the slope. Here I actually stumbled on a cairn. I knew I wasn’t the first to attempt this hike, but finding a cairn seemed unlikely. A nice grassy ramp started me up the slope at the base of a minor cliff band. There are many options for ascending past here ranging from Class 2 grassy brush to an optional short Class 3 granite slab. My route up and down were slightly different, but both were fine, if steep.

After gaining a few hundred feet on the first slope, I emerged into a flatter clearing. I could see the still sheer face of Onthank Peak, but I gained a bunch more confidence that there’d be a way to gain its southern ridge. A cairn pointed me around a small cliff, where I found another cairn. And another. Who was out here on this obscure peak stacking cairns? A few minutes later I learned the cairns I encountered were more likely leading up to a small and unnamed tarn at the base of Mount Fitzgerald, and less likely for those hoping to reach the summit of Onthank Peak, since I stopped seeing them compeltely. I have a hunch there’s a more established and easier route to overcome the initial steep slope I’d just ascended since the cairns were more concentrated up here, while the slope had basically none. Perhaps farther to the east where the slope was a bit less steep? Regardless, what I’d done worked fine and was pretty efficient.

I navigated around some small obstacles and entered a minor drainage where water flowed from the little tarn. I followed the creek for a short time because it was a gorgeous spot, but to reach the peak I had to part ways from this little magical wonderland. As soon as the more substantial brush cleared, I continued west up an abruptly steep slope. Light Class 2 brought me into tame tundra interspersed with pockets of granite slabs/obstacles. Just ahead was a boulder field ending at what appeared to be the weakness I’d hoped to find in order to gain Onthank Peak’s southern ridge. I wrapped around a small cliff band to reach the base of the boulder field, where I was happy to find a pleasant strip of tundra that allowed me to avoid all boulder-hopping and instead walk leisurely up a progressively steepening slope to reach the ridge.

So far, all had gone far better than anticipated, and it turns out the rest of the hike would continue in this fashion. The ridgeline leading to the summit of Onthank Peak proceeded at low Class 2, though sticking to the crest would throw in some Class 3/4 fun if you prefer. I found that keeping to the right of the crest meant rockier terrain with some Class 2/2+ traversing, but staying left of the crest was a mild slope requiring minimal effort. Even the summit block went easily, a short spurt of Class 2 boulders a trivial undertaking to reach an absolutely incredible view. I was a little surprised at how perfect this summit was positioned, a great central perch to see the surrounding peaks I’ve grown to love about the Ruby Mountains. I hung out for far longer than my usual 15-seconds at the summit. I love this place.

PEAKS ON HIKE
Elevation (ft) / Prominence (ft)
Peaks on hike
Elevation
Prominence
1
Onthank Peak
10835 ft
635 rise

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The start of the Thomas Creek Trail.
The start of the Thomas Creek Trail.
I quickly emerged into the expansive Thomas Canyon.
I quickly emerged into the expansive Thomas Canyon.
View back, Lamoille Peak seen over there. Thomas Canyon Campground within the trees below.
View back, Lamoille Peak seen over there. Thomas Canyon Campground within the trees below.
A nice sculpted spurt of granite.
A nice sculpted spurt of granite.
The Thomas Creek Trail ascends mostly modestly up the canyon, with one particularly steep section.
The Thomas Creek Trail ascends mostly modestly up the canyon, with one particularly steep section.
The trail passes a lovely waterfall farther up.
The trail passes a lovely waterfall farther up.
Nearing the end of the Thomas Creek Trail. There's a pond on the right.
Nearing the end of the Thomas Creek Trail. There's a pond on the right.
View back through the pretty meadows as I near the end of the trail.
View back through the pretty meadows as I near the end of the trail.
Along the social trail past the pond. My route heads up the slope on the left at the base of the little cliff band. Mount Fitzgerald seen top center.
Along the social trail past the pond. My route heads up the slope on the left at the base of the little cliff band. Mount Fitzgerald seen top center.
Crossing the creek. I kept right here and managed to avoid bushwhacking.
Crossing the creek. I kept right here and managed to avoid bushwhacking.
View back after crossing the creek. You can see the pond at the end of the Thomas Creek Trail center.
View back after crossing the creek. You can see the pond at the end of the Thomas Creek Trail center.
Ascending the grass seen left, then continuing up the slope on the right.
Ascending the grass seen left, then continuing up the slope on the right.
Ascending the slope.
Ascending the slope.
View back down at the steep slope ascent.
View back down at the steep slope ascent.
Wider shot back at my progress past the pond, just after reaching the top of the initial steep slope.
Wider shot back at my progress past the pond, just after reaching the top of the initial steep slope.
On a flatter section where I encountered cairns. I weaved around obstacles and continued toward the center of this photo. Onthank Peak summit is out of frame, but above you can see the ridge I'll be on.
On a flatter section where I encountered cairns. I weaved around obstacles and continued toward the center of this photo. Onthank Peak summit is out of frame, but above you can see the ridge I'll be on.
Onthank Peak seen far right. From here I headed left into a drainage housing a small creek.
Onthank Peak seen far right. From here I headed left into a drainage housing a small creek.
Gorgeous little creek that leads to an unnamed tarn at the base of Mount Fitzgerald (seen top center). I didn't see anymore cairns past here on my way up to Onthank Peak.
Gorgeous little creek that leads to an unnamed tarn at the base of Mount Fitzgerald (seen top center). I didn't see anymore cairns past here on my way up to Onthank Peak.
Ascending a steep slope with some light Class 2.
Ascending a steep slope with some light Class 2.
Tundra with a bunch of granite slabs. The weakness I'm headed to seen not apparent yet, but it soon will be on the top right.
Tundra with a bunch of granite slabs. The weakness I'm headed to seen not apparent yet, but it soon will be on the top right.
A boulder field just below the south ridge of Onthank Peak. Weakness seen right of center.
A boulder field just below the south ridge of Onthank Peak. Weakness seen right of center.
A grassy strip led me around the boulder field and up to the weakness seen center.
A grassy strip led me around the boulder field and up to the weakness seen center.
View back down. I came up the grass in the center, boudler field seen below. Full House Peak seen left, Snow Lake Peak center, Mount Fitzgerald right.
View back down. I came up the grass in the center, boudler field seen below. Full House Peak seen left, Snow Lake Peak center, Mount Fitzgerald right.
I reached Onthank Peak's south ridge and continued on.
I reached Onthank Peak's south ridge and continued on.
Keeping left of the crest is likely the easiest option.
Keeping left of the crest is likely the easiest option.
Onthank Peak seen center.
Onthank Peak seen center.
View back along the crest.
View back along the crest.
Onthank Peak summit ahead.
Onthank Peak summit ahead.
Class 2 to reach Onthank Peak.
Class 2 to reach Onthank Peak.
Summit of Onthank Peak, view into Thomas Creek Canyon. Thomas Peak seen top center.
Summit of Onthank Peak, view into Thomas Creek Canyon. Thomas Peak seen top center.
Close-up toward the pond at the end of the Thomas Creek Trail.
Close-up toward the pond at the end of the Thomas Creek Trail.
View back along the south ridge of Onthank Peak. Mount Fitzgerald seen top left.
View back along the south ridge of Onthank Peak. Mount Fitzgerald seen top left.
Close-up toward Goat Lake at the end of the Lamoille Canyon - Right Fork Trail.
Close-up toward Goat Lake at the end of the Lamoille Canyon - Right Fork Trail.
Wider shot into Right Fork. Mount Gilbert seen center, Ruby Dome behind it.
Wider shot into Right Fork. Mount Gilbert seen center, Ruby Dome behind it.
Ruby Spire to the north, no thanks.
Ruby Spire to the north, no thanks.

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