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

Sep 14, 2023 — 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.