MOHAWK - Discovering the Valley of the Crystals Copyright 2001

April to December to 2001 - Readers Comments
 
Note:  Dates are in Reverse Order

As of December 12, 2001

As of  November 29. 2001


As of  November 18, 2001


As of  November 13, 2001


As of October 27, 2001

It's been awhile since I've updated the Reader's Comments section, however, the response to my recent "What was I thinking" experience, inspired me to resume updates.
 

As of July 29, 2001

I live in New Hampshire now, but used  to live in Holland patent for 22 years. I have hiked to Trenton Falls many times and noticed a stone formation tucked in the woods on the Herkimer side of the river. Probably a hoax or recreation, it matches photos I have of  Bronze Age stone dwellings in Ireland.  I wondered if you knew when it was built and by whom.  The project must have been difficult, as the stones  involved are large.
Greg C.

Greg, I believe it is the remains of  a Lime Kiln.  In the 1800s and early 1900s they used to burn limestone in these stone kilns to make lime for plaster. There was also one on the Oneida County side near Prospect, but I think it was removed when the water treatment plant was built.
 

As with every "chapter" I've read, "Exploring No Man's Land" was very enjoyable.  You have the ability to mix so much of the interesting history and observances of nature with the fishing action and human interaction that the stories just flow, like the river you are exploring.
Glenn S.

Glenn, coming from someone with your writing and editing credentials, your kind words mean a great deal.
 

I am also very interested in the Mohawk Valley History.  I helped with the Town of Deerfield's 200th ann. book. I just went to General Herkimer's Home and took Video's and snap shots.  I also went to Rome and Westernville and took pictures of William Floyd's grave (one of the signers of the Declaration Of Independence) and Francis Bellamy's grave, the author of the Pledge Of Allegiance.  I have the video and pictures if you are interested.
Tom S.

Tom, I share your enthusiasm for the history of  the Mohawk Valley. Unless it's something really unusual I use my own photographs for slide programs, web site or books. However, I appreciate the offer.

I can't click on the link you provide with your Heads Up email notices. It is not underlined. I have to highlight the address, copy and paste it in the address line and then hit return. I already have your address in my "favorites".
Melody T

Melody, I can't figure out why the links don't come to you underlined and ready to use. Some readers get them correctly one time and not the next. Let me know if the links in my Heads Up Notices are not underlined,  and I'll try and try again.
 

Thanks for taking the time to try to solve the problem regarding the links in your Heads Up Notices.
Dick A

I read about your book in progress in the Little Falls Evening Times online version. Please send updates as they occur. My wife and I are from Dolgeville but haven't lived there since the early 70's.
Bill K., Richmond, VA

I think what you are doing is great and you seem to have fun doing it.  I would like you to send me updates on your journey.  My father (Dale Janes) really enjoys what you are doing.
Jacy J.

Please include me on your EMail listings of progress on your writing. My wife and I now live in Fredericksburg, VA but were lifelong residents of the Mohawk Valley and the North Country of NYS. Thank you so much for the nostalgia we feel when reading your work.
Michael  and Christobel  S.

As Of June 10,  2001

I just finished checking out the latest installment and was really impressed and surprised at the amount and variety of wildlife the you and Ron found so close to the city. Did you get a new camera? Those photos of the birds looked better than previous photos.
Dale J.

Dale, the bird photos were taken with a camera and zoom lens I use for slides. Most of the photos taken for this website are taken with a point and shoot 35 mm camera loaded with print film. Then I scan them at low resolution so they load quickly with the web pages. Very few of these low resolution photos look as good as the original photographs, but they help to illustrate the articles. I also have a slide scanner, but again the low resolution scan required for the web does not do them justice. You'll have to see one of my slide programs to really appreciate those photographs. Incidentally, I haven't decided on what kind of digital camera to buy.

Great reading. Makes you want to see it for ourself. Keep up the good work!
Lynne P.

I had fun looking at the maps of Utica. Thanks for the great site. Hope the
book is progressing well.
Lou P.

MapTech is a wonderful resource to know about. Thanks for telling us about it.
Susan P.

This map site is super, a metal detectorist dream, thank you and thank those who are allowing this site free.
Tom M.

Keep writin' so I can keep readin'.
Melody

I have been in the pot holes on Moss Island several times over the years. There is also some interesting flora on the island, too. That area is full of beauty and geological formations. Across from Moss Island, across the valley, is a very popular cliff that rock climbers have tackled for many years. And I believe that that cliff also is rich in quartz crystals. Little Falls is a paradise for youngsters. I spent many summers there back in the 30s and 40s
Frank S.

The day I got your headsup e-mail I went to your web page and I don't mind telling you, when I was finished, I had tears running down my cheeks!! I copied off the part about Doolie and sent it my daughter by e-mail. She has a golden retriever also. She printed it out and took it to school and she had all the other teachers crying!! Sorry to hear about Doolie. When are you going to get a new one?
Dick W.

Dick, I received dozens of special messages about Good Bye Old Friend. Most of them noted the article about Doolie brought them to tears. Yours is the only one that shared those tears with so many people. Thanks to you and all those who know how it feels to lose a special dog.


As Of May 20, 2001

I loved the latest additions to the Book-in-Progress. The photos add a lot. I sure wish I had just some of the energy and motivation that you seem to have. Well keep up the good work and take care.
Dale J.

I never get enough of your research and adventures. I really enjoyed your adventure with Bridget, sounded like you had a ball that day. Keep up the good work but take care of yourself, remember you're not a kid anymore.
Millie R.

Keep your adventures coming. The Lost River section reminds me of Alice going through the Looking glass.
Jane D.

I'm still reading everything you send, and enjoying it all.  Sometimes your photos are "suitable for framing."
Pat R.

I am, indeed enjoying your writing, your adventures, and the website. Look forward to the book!
Anita M.

Thanks for the information. I, for one, am extremely interested in following your book.  The nice thing about having it online is that one can view it at will---any hour of the day or night.
Charley W.

Tonight I had the chance to read a good portion of what you have posted...excellent....excellent...everything from the reading to the pictures....
Jack M


As of  May 6, 2001

Have been enjoying your writing. Keep going, my friend. You are a local treasure. As for the source of the Mohawk, I recall doing a column (Utica OD) about this many years ago. I got the idea from reading a 1940s or 1950s National Geographic article, which I found at a garage sale or something. Anyway, what I did was to go back and retrace the steps of the National Geographic writer and I talked with the family of the people featured in the article and one of them - or maybe it was a family friend - took me to the spring which is the source of the Mohawk.
Joe K

You have quite a nice website.  In your research, have you found a book in the "Rivers of America" series about the Mohawk?  They did books in this series for the Hudson and Genesee.
John R

John, Yes, I have that book.
 

I did take a look and learned a few things. I recall a few trips where I put my kayak in several miles below East Canada Creek and paddled upstream to the confluence and then upstream on East Canada as far as I could go, ferrying from Eddy to Eddy and dragging over some drops. If you are ever in need of company on a trip, give me a shout
Dave P.

I'm glad that you didn't find the easiest route to the top of Big Nose. That way you created your own adventure and just think of all the cool things you may have missed had you took the easy way! Keep up the great adventures!!
Tera C

I love that kind of hiking, pick a target and go, skip the trails.  And we do that during winter or early spring for the same reasons you do.  It neat to get out and not come across anybody. I too have noticed traces of old farms on tops of mountains in our area.  I wonder why they picked such rocky places when land was still plentiful in the valleys?  Maybe they just liked the isolation.
Ray S.

Ray, In many areas the bottomlands were too wet to farm, and those highlands that are rocky now were once covered with rich soil that had formed under primeval forests. Eventually the hilltop rich soils washed away and farmers (in the early to mid 1800s) learned how to drain those bottomlands with drain tiles and rock filled ditches.

Thanks for  letting us explore the mountains with you.
Nancy K.

I found this latest most interesting, I envy you walking the unknown woods kicking up ducks and watching wildlife away from the noise of the suburbs, sounds very tranquil. I can appreciate the snow you mention.  We went on the dead deer survey with Region 6 wildlife biologists, We hiked in the woods in the High Market area; they were primitive and peaceful; saw no live wildlife only dead deer. Our group counted 13, the three groups of sportsmen and biologists counted 38. In places I was up to my butt in snow, other places where the sun penetrated was bare ground. Hope you find your beginning.
Doug F

Nature hikes are just not like baseball.  It is just nice to get "out".
Giff M.

Good luck. Here's hoping you don't strike out this time.
Lynne P.

As of April 29, 2001

I have enjoyed learning about this great area of ours.  Would it be ok to forward (information about the web site) to a buddy that has a camp up at White Lake and lives on Long Island?
Joan B.

Joan, By all means, please pass this information to friends.
 

I cannot wait to read this book!
Lou P.
 

My research (1790s) indicates that the processing and shipment of ashes and potash was there right from the first settlement. Pioneers sold the ashes to small scale asheries for cash which paid for the cost of clearing their farms. Ashes were being shipped to Europe from central New York by boat in this period, when most of the settlements of the area began. This was probably true from the 1780s on.
    Later, in the early 19th century, as the scope of settlement in the far west expanded, an "industry" of potash grew up, but by then the distance and cost to market had already began to undermine profitability.
Phil L.

Phil, Right you are. I did the research on this subject for the KUYAHOORA book, and most of this area was settled in the 1780s.
 

That's alot of ash! How I wish we could at least glimpse the virginal forests the way they were back then.
Lynne P.

I read it all.  Every bit.  I love the installments, and your enthusiasm in the search for something.....else.  I hope this book never ends.
Pat R

I was into your readers comments section, but found no place to add a message. So I would like you to elaborate on limestone and why it was cooked in kilns, and the uses for same. Thank you.
Tom M.

Tom, Thanks I added a link to my email at the beginning and end of this section.
 

I noted the following comment on your website: "One section of the Mohawk River I haven't explored between its source and Frankfort --- a distance of some 65 miles --- is the 3-mile stretch from West Leyden to East Ava Road. I plan to walk it this spring."
    Just thought I would clue you in that our snow has finally melted, for the most part, so you should be able to walk that by now. I'm following your additions to the site with great interest.
Anita M.

Anita, Thank you. I'll be up there this week.

As of  April 23, 2001
Hi Paul, I read them all & appreciate receiving them. It seems I learn something new each time. Thanx a lot.
Giff  M.

Seeing what you've been up to, in all sorts of weather, kinda gives me a rosy outlook for my retirement years.  Keep up the good work, it's entertaining!
Joe  H.

Very nice.  I really enjoyed the helicopter story.  I've done a lot of flying in helicopters, some Bell Jet Rangers, some bigger Navy helicopters.
Ray S.

Yes, I have been reading your updates and thoroughly enjoying them. Your website is very slick and easy to browse, keep up the great work....!
Denny G.

I can relate to the turtle incident, my son Dan and I were fishing bass one fine day from a 17' aluminum canoe.  I thought I had a good sized bass on, when I got it to surface it was that creature and he was actually roaring. I cut the line.
Tom M.

Keep up your fine work. Good stuff. You just keep getting better and better!
Spider R.

The Bird's Eye View is good.  Great pictures.  I especially like the Little Falls shot.
Jane D.

Most enjoyable reading. Thanks. Good photo. Two heads are better than one, I agree, but doesn't that double the food intake ?
Bev P.

I'm enjoying your work. Good reading. Thanks for sending it to me.
Joe K.

It's a relaxing adventure I can share with you when I sit down after school to get some of the 'required' work done. But, would you get the book done sooner if you were not spending time sharing all your information?
Brian D.

Love the picture of the two-headed cow.  The helicopter trip sounded great too. I have been reading the updates, however I have to admit - I haven't had much time lately to really enjoy and read through at a slower more comprehensive pace.  I have just skimmed over.  Love what you write though.
Denise G.

Just letting you know that I always check out your latest additions to the book & enjoy the comments.  Sounds like fun.
Leo M.

Checked out the Book In Progress. Neat - and a nice picture of the confluence of Schoharie Creek and the Mohawk River. Some day you might want to check out the small museum at Auriesville Shrine.
Ron K.

You have quite an undertaking planned for this summer. Hope you get to start soon.
Lynne P.

Thanks for the great story about the Lost River!  It sounds like it was quite the adventure with some close calls.  Especially the snapping turtle!  Can't wait to hear about future adventures and outings especially now that the weather is finally getting a little warmer up there! Until then happy adventures to you!
Tera  C.

The mis-placed section of the Mohawk sounded like a great adventure. Keep up the good work,
Bud M.

Paul thanks for sharing the MOHAWK VALLEY with me.  Most of what I read was new to me.
Powsie W.

Send comments and suggestions to: M. Paul Keesler


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