Thomas Canyon

We started our hiking journey that same day, at an appropriate location, Thomas Canyon, which is a side canyon half-way up the road in the larger Lamoille Canyon. The Thomas Canyon Campground provides access to the trailhead, which is considered "moderate" (about 5 miles in and back), with an elevation gain of 1,272 feet (to just under 9,000 ft).

The trail had smooth spots and rough spots, and being out-of-shape, I wondered if I could make it, but I'm known to be stubborn. Thankfully Tom is a patient person. What is described as 2.5 hours took me a lot longer. And it was worth it, particularly reaching the valley and meadows and seeing the small lake and multiple water falls and snow fields at the end of the canyon.

You can see from the photos that the trail had snow in places, water in places, was very rocky and uneven in places. I'm so thankful I had my wonderful hiking stick to steady me. I only fell once, I think, and that was on the way down, slipping on some gravel. This was a good introduction for the hikes yet to come, and gave me psychological stamina for longer, steeper hikes during the next few days.