A view of The Noses as they appear today, looking west. The New York State Thruway passes below. To its left, visible through the trees, is State Route 5S, which closely follows the path of the old Erie Canal. Today, the “canalized” Mohawk River carries Erie Canal boat traffic. The Mohawk River valley is only water gap that crosses the Appalachian Mountains, and the geological feature that made the canal project feasible. (Photograph copyright Philip Scalia 2016)