In New York, as well as many other states, we have a lot of roads that were former trails used by the people native to this land. Today I will share what we are learning about our Revolutionary Trail.
The Revolutionary Trail, which, today is New York Route 5, runs through the Southern Adirondack North Country Region, between the state capital of Albany to the shores of Lake Ontario. I had forgotten, or maybe never knew, that nearly one third of all the battles fought during the American Revolution were fought in New York State… many along this trail. That is a lot of battles for this small state.
For much of New York Route 5’s distance, it parallels the Mohawk River, (which I have mentioned before). The Mohawk River was originally named, by the Mohawk people… Tenonanatche, a river flowing through a mountain, or ‘Yenonanatche, river going around a mountain. I much prefer the original names given to the river because those names describe the river perfectly.
The Mohawk River follows an ancient natural pathway connecting two prehistoric lakes. Created by glaciers and carved out by melting ice water, the valley through which the Mohawk River runs once drained the entire Great Lakes region. (Sorry, did not mean to go on about the Tenonanatche, but I just love this river!
Where we live in Gloversville you head down, gradually at first, through Johnstown, then, the decline steepens, your ears pop, and you arrive in Fonda. Fonda sits on the edge of the (modern day name) Mohawk River. In our area of Fulton and Montgomery counties, the Tenonanatche River valley runs between parallel ridges of rock rising to the Adirondacks in the north, and up through Schoharie County into the Catskills to the south where it merges with the Hudson River.
(At Fonda you can access another trail, the Adirondack Trail on Route 30A, but That is an adventure for another time.)
We travel Route 5 quite frequently to the east to Schenectady, Rotterdam, Colonie, and Albany because it is a relaxing alternative to the turnpike. We have taken Route 5 as far west as Herkimer.
I hope you enjoy either learning or remembering about some of the unique features of Upstate New York.
We have not traveled the full length of the river ‘yet’ because of our renovations, but it is on our bucket list…
