Mohawk Valley Book-In-Progress
It is extremely difficult to select photos for MOHAWK - Discovering
the Valley of the Crystals from the hundreds that are included
in the Mohawk Valley Book-In-Progress. I have many personal
favorites, but a few are toss-ups. So, I've asked you to join me in the
process of selecting the color photos that will be featured in the
BIG
BOOK.
For the next few months,
I'll post some of my favorites and some of yours on this page, and provide
information on where they were taken and where they might appear in the
book.
To see a larger image, click on the photo.
The Noses. Taken in the summer,
looking west. Note the many modes of travel passing between Little
Nose on the left and Big Nose on the right. This photo --- with some
adjustment --- will appear on the cover of the book and on a page within.
Little Falls aerial photograph taken
looking west. That's Moss Island between the Canal and the Mohawk
River at the "Little Falls". Because Little Falls is such an interesting
place historically, geologically and currently, I'm considering using
this photo on the back cover. What do you think?
A wild section of the Mohawk River between
the mouth of East Canada Creek and Saint Johnsville. I am also considering
this photo for the back cover of the book because it's so beautiful. -
What do you think?
The following photographs were taken of individuals who joined me on Discovery Trips in the Mohawk Valley. Each photo was taken at a historically significant location. The general location of the sites are noted, and the chapters I plan to use them in are noted.
For a larger image click on the photo.
Photos were taken using Kodak 100 or 200 print film that were scanned to digitial, or with a digital camera. I also took 35mm slides using Kodachrome 64 film, and may have to convert them to digital to improve photo quality for the book.
Some of these color photos may be changed to Black & White. Some have to be in color.
Your comments will be appreciated.
Bob McNitt takes a break on a downed willow
at a site where Bateaux Men once rested after polling up the Mohawk River
on their way to the Great Carry in the 1700s. We dug up buttons,
buckles, musket balls and a jews harp at this location. Incidentally, Bob's
holding the "shovel." For Chapter 11 - The River.
Ron Gugnacki prepares to release a smallmouth
bass on one of the few wild stretches of the Mohawk River between Frankfort
and the Hudson River. Upstream on the south side of the river, opposite
the mouth of East Canada Creek, was the location of The Upper Mohawk
Castle and King Hendrick's Orchard. For Chapter 11 - The River
Dave Hamilton pulled up one of the thousands
of water chestnuts growing in Lisha Kill Bay at Niska Island. These
imported plants are spreading up the river, and detrimental to aquatic
plants, and fish and wildlife. Niska Island was once the site of
a Mohawk Village. For Chapter 11 - The River
Denny Gillen explores the ancient stone works
at the site of Beardslee City on East Canada Creek. Beardslee City
ceased to exist soon after the Erie Canal was completed in 1825.
For Chapter 12 - The Tributaries.
Valaine Fluty admiring her brother's skill in finding the abutment that once supported the bridge to the Lost City at the bottom of Reall Creek Gorge. Brown's Gulf, sometimes called Mechanicsville, was thriving here by 1828 and all but gone by the end of the century. For Chapter 12 - The Tributaries.
Click on photo to see a larger image
Bridget Keesler takes a last look at the water gap between The Noses
from a ledge near the bottom of Big Nose. It took us an hour and a half
to climb to the top where we discovered stone fences and some spectacular
views of the Valley. It was here that a glacial river broke through
the Appalachian Chain to create the Mohawk Valley. For Chapter
23 - Wonders of Nature.
Gertrude-Eychner Keesler along with grandkids Jack and Andi Nicholson,
and Steven Eychner are hung up on a ledge in Railroad Rapids on West Canada
Creek. West Canada Creek was once considered the source of the Mohawk
River and carries more water to the river than any other tributary.
For Chapter 12 - The Tributaries.
Paul Flanders investigates the "den" at the bottom of a big sycamore. Note the shedded bark hanging from seedlings and around the bottom of the tree. Paul guided me on discovery trips on Timmerman, Zimmerman and Crum Creeks. For Chapter 12- Tributaries.
Click on photo to see a larger image.
Ron Kolodziej displays some of the shells, pottery shards and pieces
of flint we discovered on a high ground peninsula overlooking Cayadutta
Creek. It was the location of a Mohawk Village over 500 years ago. The
boulder may have been a corn grinding stone. For Chapter 12 -Tributaries.
Dale Janes can hardly contain his enthusiasm when he discovered
this Old Erie Canal Lock on Lock 18 Island. Note the trees growing
out of the lock walls. For Chapter 10 - The Canals.
Click on photo to see a larger image.
Andi Nicholson, Steven Eychner and Jack Nicholson
"discovering" the joys of one of the many waterfalls on a tributary
in the Mohawk Valley. For Chapter 12 - The Tributaries.
Click on photo to see a larger image.
Gary Eychner, Mark Eychner and Uncle Denny roast hotdogs and bake
brown trout at the bottom of The Canyon on the upper reaches of the Mohawk
River. This six-mile stretch of the river can only be accessed from
each end. For Chapter 11 - The River.
John Pitaressi casts for bass as Ron Gugnacki paddles the canoe
below the dam in Herkimer that separates the Canal and the Mohawk River
at Herkimer. That's a moveable dam in the background that is up when
the Canal is open and down when it's closed. For Chapter 11 - The
River.
Paul Keesler discovers the source of the Mohawk River atop Mohawk
Hill after three days of exploring with Denny Gillen. (35mm
slide requires professional scanning to use in the book.)
For Chapter 11 - The River.
The West Leyden Dam/Falls is the first manmade dam on the Mohawk River. This was the site of of water powered mills for many years. Today it creates West Leyden Pond and a beautiful waterfalls that are visible from Route 26.
Click on photo to see a larger and sharper
image.
Cohoes Falls is the highest and widest natural waterfalls on the
Mohawk River. It is hear that the Mohawk River drops some 70 feet into
the Hudson Valley. Most of the year there is only a trickle of water
coming over the falls.
I explored the plunge pool below Cohoes Falls during the summer
months when most of the water in the Mohawk River was diverted to the Canal
and Cohoes power plant.
The falls at Peebles Island is the last one on the Mohawk River.
Dave Hamilton walked the canoe to the top of the falls so we could carry
it to the bottom.
The last dam on the Mohawk River. Dave Hamilton photographs
the dam while I look for a place to carry the canoe over it.
The Tributaries
Scraping
Smallmouths on the Schoharie
Schoharie Creek between Mill Point and Schoharie Crossing.
Six miles of wild and beautiful country. That's Willow in the foreground,
and Ron Gugnacki and Dale Janes canoe-fishing the middle of the pool.
Caught lots of bass on this trip.
Schoharie smallmouths were big, plentiful and took a variety
of lures.
Click on photo to see a larger and sharper
image.
It was an amazing experience paddling Willow under the remnants of
Schoharie Crossing. It was here the Schoharie once passed under an aqueduct
that helped make New York the Empire State. And it was only a few thousand
yards upstream that the NYS Thruway Bridge collapsed on April 5, 1987.
That massive structure had fallen into the river when a pier washed away.
Ten people lost their lives when their vehicles fell into the river.
Click on photo to see a larger and sharper
image.
Canoe Trip from Hell on Schoharie Creek
Bob McNitt, Dave Hamilton and Ron Gugnacki enter the Gates of Hell on Schoharie Creek between Burtonsville Bridge and Mill Point. Dale Janes and I soon caught up and led the way to a Canoe Trip From Hell. We all capsized, losing thousands of dollars worth of cameras, plus fishing tackle, coolers, cell phone, a chunk of thumb and our dignity.
Dave Hamilton couldn't resist taking a photo of the wet, bruised
and bleeding "boss" of the expedition. This is the one good photograph
that survived the Canoe Trip From Hell. (Photo by Dave Hamilton)
Click on photo to see a larger and sharper
image.
Send
comments and suggestions to: M. Paul Keesler
For more information about "The Players" see Acknowledgments.
More toCome!
