MOHAWK - Discovering the Valley of the Crystals   Copyright 2002

Acknowledgments
It will require the assistance of  hundreds of individuals to create this book, so the list of people and their contributions will be added to this page as time goes on. However, for now . . . .
 

. . . . let me introduce you to The Explorers of the Mohawk Valley in the game of discovery.

Steve Burton is a veterinarian in Barneveld who pilots a helicopter. We flew over West Canada Valley five times to gather photographs for the Kuyahoora book, and became good friends in the process. Thus far we've made one bird's-eye view discovery trip over the Mohawk Valley.

Gary Eychner is Operation Manager at FLEET Bank's AFSA office in Utica. He grew up in the Rome area and has fished the Mohawk River since childhood. Gary is my stepson and a good friend.

Mark Eychner works for Enjem's Carpets. He is an exceptional fisherman and loves the outdoors. He grew up in Rome and has fished in the Mohawk Valley since childhood. Mark is my stepson and a good friend.

Paul Flanders is a retired Principal of the school in Dolgeville, a lifelong resident of the Saint Johnsville area, a conservationist, hunter, fishermen, historian, accomplished woodworker and all around nice guy.

Valaine Fluty is a retired social worker, my sister and a best friend. We grew up together in the Mohawk Valley. She enjoys hiking and exploring.

Dennis Gillen is a retired Captain of the City of Rome Fire Department. He grew up in the West Leyden area and has lived near the upper reaches of the Mohawk River all his life. He loves to hunt, fish and explore wild places. He's a good friend and my brother-in-law.

Ronald Gugnacki is an almost-retired FAA Air Traffic Control Supervisor. He grew up in the Utica area and fished and hunted in upstate New York most of his life. He is a longtime friend, and fishing, hunting and canoeing partner.

Dave Hamilton is a longtime friend who recently retired from the Federal Aviation Administration. We worked together in FAA for almost 30 years, he was the cartoonist for the New York Sportsman magazine for many years, served as Associated Editor for a couple of years,  and provided cartoons and illustrations for three of my books. He is also an accomplished photographer. He now lives near Saratoga Lake and has joined me on discovery trips near Cohoes and the mouth of the Mohawk River.

Dale Janes grew up in Ilion. While serving 20 years in the U.S. Army, he fished  rivers and lakes on three continents and several states. He recently returned to the MohawkValley where he works as a postal carrier and fishes boyhood streams. After I fished with him in downtown Little Falls, we became friends and have enjoyed several discovery trips.

Bridget Keesler is a Special Education Teacher in Sherburne. She grew up with the New York Sportsman magazine and loves the outdoors. She's my daughter and a best friend.

Gertrude Eychner-Keesler is my wife and best friend. She loves grandkids and enjoys exploring the Mohawk Valley if she doesn't have to climb hills or paddle upstream.

Ronald Ron Kolodziej is an outdoor writer and fishing guide who lives in Amsterdam. He writes a weekly column for the Amsterdam Recorder, and has a keen interest in the early history of the Mohawk Valley.
He is a longtime friend and fishing partner.

Bob McNitt recently retired from a 12-year stint as the Editor of the New York Sportsman magazine. His hometown is Norwich where he is Outdoor Editor for the Norwich Evening Sun. He  has hunted and fished throughout New York State and in Canada. He is a longtime friend, and fishing, hunting and canoeing partner.

John Pitarresi is a sportswriter with the Observer Dispatch in Utica. He has written about outdoor recreation in the Mohawk Valley for many years and has a keen interest in the history of the area. We've been friends for several years.

Steven Eychner,  Andrea Nicholson and Jack Nicholson --- grand kids all. They have joined me on many discovery trips in Kuyahoora Valley.  

1993 Jeep Grand Cherokee that has tallied over 180,000 miles, much of it on the NYS Thruway, and the highways, byways and back roads of  the Mohawk Valley.

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