Turner Mountain Peak #5(Cowee Lands/ Capital District WMA-Rensselaer County, NY)

A few years ago NY state acquired thousands of acres of former Cowee woodland covering a large swath of the Rensselaer Plateau, as well as land in Washington County and Vermont.  Sitting in one of the southern sections of that acquisition in the town of Stephentown is Turner Mountain and parts of its five plus summits.  I had previously hiked the named summit and its two sub summits but wanted to hike to the other peaks as well.  One of the issues with exploring here is a lack of formal access, but I was able to find some areas where it was possible.  

I have attached a map with the five summits, simply labeled 1-5 for simplicity. 

Day One would be an exploration of peak #5, the furthest summit east, where unfortunately public land doesn't quite extend all the way to the true summit, although it does come close.  I got started at a gate in the woods just north of dead end George Hunt Road(Elevation 1015 feet).  Beyond the gate there are woods roads that zig zag all over.

Found some early signs of spring in the woods, such as these spring beauties.

Yellow paint blazes on trees mark state boundaries and can be a bit confusing at times, but I did my best to remain on public land.  I left the woods road and bushwhacked straight up towards the 1704 foot summit, with screened views opening up behind me to the south/ southeast.

Yellow blazes near the summit, mark the high spot on public land, a mere fifty vertical feet below the top.

To remain on public land, it is a steep vertical drop to the west directly down towards Roaring Brook.

Picked up another woods road further down the west slopes of Peak #5, where I was able to spot remnants of old foundations.

Down near Roaring Brook, a very good woods road leads to two substantial clearings.

 

From one of the clearings I enjoyed a nice view across Roaring Brook towards Turner Mountain Peak #3.

Checked out nearby Roaring Brook, which is a beautiful trout stream and eventually flows down into the Kinderhook Creek.

Near the clearing and sitting on a small knoll is an old cemetery, dating back to the 19th century.  This small cemetery appears immaculate and very well cared for.

Old headstone dating back to 1809.

I was fairly limited on time, so had to turn back there, basically following woods roads most of the way back, being careful to try to stay on public land.  I attached a map below with Cowee Forest land shaded in.  Covered about 2.8 miles RT, with 650 feet of climbing.  

Red P=Parking off George Hunt Road  Red X=High Spot I hit   Red C=Clearing   Blue X=Cemetery