Littleton, NH tapping

[woodsmith]

Watching the weather for Northern NH region, still not quite there but getting things ready and hoping for more snow before things kick off. Good luck everyone.

[PerryW]

I untangled and unrolled most of my "take down" tubing in Lyman yesterday but didn't bore any holes. I guess I'll go to my main sugarbush in Littleton within the next few days and get things ready over there, but hoping to wait until next weekend (or later) before boring any holes. Looks like there's no significant prodction in southern NH yet so I doubt there's any rush to tap in this area.

[PerryW]

Got almost all of my tubing tapped today and yesterday, about 700 taps total. most of the holes dribbled as I was tapping yesterday (saturday), but it stayed frozen today.

I'll probably wait at least a few day to see if the season is actually here before hanging my buckets.

[PerryW]

My Littleton 600 taps started running late yesterday (at least good enough to check for leaks). Found a couple missed taps and repaired a broken tee or two, drained and cleaned the tank; closed the valve at 4PM and the sap collection has begun!

It may warm up enough today to get some sap, but I'm not holding my breath because it's still early in the season for me.

[sjdoyon]

Saturday is looking good for us. Good luck down south.

[PerryW]

Gathered my first sap of the season; about 250 gallons. More than I expected as the taps near the house (in Lyman) weren't running at all. Go the evaporator all ready to fire up in the AM to sweeten the pans.

[PerryW]

Boiled up the 250 gallons from yesterday and sweetened up the pans. Hung 35 buckets and gathered another 200 gal. of sap from the Littleron Bush (600 taps). Didn't run in Lyman much at all. Only a high of 35 and the wind blew all day. Surprised I got anything. Should have my first take-off tomorrow morning.

[PerryW]

I'm on the boards with 6 gallons of fancy. Everything ran pretty smooth with the old rig; just like riding a bicicle. Let the games begin.

[Mark-NH]

Keep us posted Perry.

[PerryW]

Sap's flowing good, though some of the colder taps are still waking up.

To recap 2013 so far,

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
------------------
total 21 gal
Also, I'm sitting on 400 gallons of sap that I gathered at 7PM tonight and it's still trickling out now.

Season looks great so far.

[PerryW]

no freeze last night so only picked up 90 gallons of sap. Between what I gathered last night and today, I made another 8 gallons of fancy.

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-13 8 gal fancy
------------------
total 29 gal

[PerryW]

well I didn't even check my taps yesterday but I suppose I go gather everything this afternoon and boil, if necessary before the big freeze up. If the weathermen are right it looks too cold for the next week for sap flow.

[PerryW]

drove around and dumped the few gallons of sap that ran in the last 48 hours.
Surprisingly, there were a few buckets that were over half full, though most had less than a pint of yellow sap.

[PerryW]

Day 13 without any appreciable sap. Walked the lines yesterday and repaired a few lines that would have run on the ground. Two laterals were pulled out from a falling dead tree, one squirrel bite and a couple 5/16" adapters had popped off. There would have been 25-30 taps running on the ground, so the effort was worth it.

I may get some sap today but rather than wait for sap, I'm going skiing!

Hoping that when the warmup happens, we will still have sugaring weather. With a little luck I could still have a decent season. I used to say I made more syrup in APril than March, though the last few years have been mostly march runs.

Sitting on 29 gallons of Fancy and hoping for 110 gal.

[sjdoyon]

Should finally break this week. We are in for a long month of April. Good luck down there.

[PerryW]

(monday nite midnite:) Okay, we're finally getting some sap again. Picked up a full 425 gal at 7 PM and left 100 gal in the tank and it was stll running.

Made 10 more gal of nice light fancy. Still a buttery taste to the syrup. Good flavor but different from other years.


To recap 2013 so far,

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
---------------------
total = 39 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Did a quick sap check and the Sap ran quite a bit overnight and the spout-icicles on the buckets are dripping like crazy. Looks like it may run some today despite the not-quite-cold-enough freeze last night. Looks like afternoon boil today.

[PerryW]

Made another 12 gallons yesterday (tues) and I'm now at last year's total of 51 gal. We're at 26 degrees at 4 AM and still headed down so looks line more sap. Still really lite fancy!


3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
---------------------
total = 51 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Boiled up another 300 gallons thins morning, up to 57 gal total. (>50 % crop) Good, hard freeze last night, temps just hit 40 and sap is starting to drop. I predict a good run today! Bring it on.

[PerryW]

What a difference 3 days makes! Went from 29 gallons to 67 gallons, almost 2/3 crop! Still very light fancy. Grade dropped slightly at the beginning of the boil but bounced back to very light after a couple take-offs.


3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
---------------------
total = 67 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Didn't freeze last night, but still picked up enough sap to make another 8 gallons of Fancy.

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
---------------------
total = 75 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Another night without a freeze, but picked up enough sap this afternoon to make another 2 gallons. Possible ligt freeeze tonight and maybe tomorrow night and return to colder weather predicted Monday nite.

Didn't freeze last night, but still picked up enough sap to make another 8 gallons of Fancy.

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
---------------------
total = 77 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Not much of a freeze last night. My tubing didn't run much though some of the colder buckets ran half a pail. Hoping for a good freeze tonite and some sap tomorrow. Playing a Bluegrass gig in Franconia NH tonite till 1 AM so I'll be back at it tomorrow.

[PerryW]

Got down to 20 degrees last night and near 50 today. Sap ran good, gathered at 2-3 PM and picked up a full 425 gallon tank. Got 10 gallons of Fancy/Medum. Sap still trickling out and I expect another 400 gallons of sap will be ready to pick up in the morning.


3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
---------------------
total = 87 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

No freeze last nite, but picked up 220 gallons of sap that trickled out since yesterday's gather. Made another 5 gallons today. Grade finally dropped solidly into A Medium.

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
---------------------
total = 92 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

here's a few pictures from 2013. And some of the Ultra-Light 2013 Crop.

7671767276737674

[Greyfox]

Beautiful product Perry. Nice pictures, but man am I jealous....wood envy! Good luck up North, and I hope the season hangs in for you for a while more. I'm MAYBE going go get one last little run tomorrow, but after that I'm done.

[PerryW]

Beautiful product Perry. Nice pictures, but man am I jealous....wood envy! Good luck up North, and I hope the season hangs in for you for a while more. I'm MAYBE going go get one last little run tomorrow, but after that I'm done.

Thanks. Looks like next tuesday is going to be a warm one w/ forecast highs of 60-70 deg. That may end it for me, but there may be a few freezes between now and then and I should easily make my 110 gallons. Off to check the sap lines before the big run today!

[PerryW]

sap ran great today. picked up a total of 650 gallons and took of 6 gallons off dark amber and still have another 375 gallons of sap left to boil tomorrow morning. Sap was still running when I just gathered(9 pm).


3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
---------------------
total = 98 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[derekp]

Wow thats awesome that your still going strong...im starting to get nervous up here. Even in my cold bush the tree tops are shimmering red and all my reds are really getting fuzzy looking!!! The past 2 nights have been in the 20s so im hoping that todays sap is still going to be good. Going to run it through tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed...everything i've made so far has been light. Glad that i have a few people that love light syrup!Goodluck!

[PerryW]

Wow thats awesome that your still going strong...im starting to get nervous up here. Even in my cold bush the tree tops are shimmering red and all my reds are really getting fuzzy looking!!! The past 2 nights have been in the 20s so im hoping that todays sap is still going to be good. Going to run it through tomorrow and keep my fingers crossed...everything i've made so far has been light. Glad that i have a few people that love light syrup!Goodluck!

Derek, I would think Berlin would be colder than Littleton/Lyman. Even some of the guys south of Concord are still boiling, so I don't expect any bud run.

It does look like warm temps by tuesday & wednesday next week. Some reports are saying 70 deg., so that will end it quick for me.

[PerryW]

EDIT: 11 pm - PICKED UP A FULL 425 GAL TANK AND MADE another 8 gallons just now A dark - Amedium border. Full Crop and it's still going!

Boiled up the sap I gathered last night and made 7 gallons of dark amber. Grade is almost back to Medium but it tastes like good grade B. The bucket next to the sugarhouse trickled out almost 1/2 a pail since 8 PM last night and still dripping. Will gather whatever ran this afternoon and hope for a freeze tonite.

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
4-5 15 gallons dark amber
---------------------
total = 113 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Too cold today for good flow but managed to pick up 175 gallons of sap and took off two gallons. Grade jumped up to Medium Amber. Tomorrow should be a gusher. 6 more gallons and it will be the best year since 2000.

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
4-5 15 gallons dark amber
4-5 2 gallons medium amber
---------------------
total = 115 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[woodsmith]

I have 85 taps in this year in Littleton and stand at 17 gallons syrup to date. Everything I've collected has been nice and clear and the boiling tells me the sugar content is high, especially compared to what we had last year. I like to boil large batches to intentionally caramelize the syrup for a more robust flavor so naturally most of my syrup is dark, can't say exactly what grade though since I don't invest in a comparison kit.

[PerryW]

My cold trees ran really well today but my warmer pipline w/ 600 gravity is slowing down. Or maybe a tree knocked down a line when the windstorm came through around 3 PM? It blew 5 buckets and spouts right off the trees and knocked down quite a few trees in town! Anyway, made 8 gallons of Medium tonite. WIll collect in the AM and should get another 250-300 gallons at least. Best year since 2000 and still making syrup!


3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
4-5 15 gallons dark amber
4-6 2 gallons medium amber
4-7 8 gallons medium amber
---------------------
total = 123 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Surprised to pickup 375 gallons today. Once again, the buckets ran extremely well even without a frost. Made another 8 gallons of low-end medium. Also, just picked up 250 gallons of 1.2% sap that was given to me and gathered another 50 gallons just now. Turning into a real good season for me.


3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
4-5 15 gallons dark amber
4-6 2 gallons medium amber
4-7 8 gallons medium amber
4-8 8 gallons medium amber
---------------------
total = 131 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Boiled down the 250 gal of 1.2% vacuum sap that I was given plus 100 gallons of my sap and got another 6 gallons. Grade dropped through dark amber and into grade B. The weather forecast now looks more promising. Never got out of the 40's today here and there may even be a freeze by thursday. I'm staying plugged in.

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
4-5 15 gallons dark amber
4-6 2 gallons medium amber
4-7 8 gallons medium amber
4-8 8 gallons medium amber
4-9 6 gallons Dark-Grade B
---------------------
total = 137 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Boiled up another 100 gallons and made 2 gallons. Dropped into Vermont C grade but still good taste. It is getting strong but still grade B taste. We'll see what happens with the colder weather predicted.

3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
4-5 15 gallons dark amber
4-6 2 gallons medium amber
4-7 8 gallons medium amber
4-8 8 gallons medium amber
4-9 6 gallons Dark-Grade B
4-10 2 gallons Vermont C
---------------------
total = 139 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

After boiling 7 days in a row, looks like I have a day off, though the sugarhouse thermometer says 28 deg and there's a skim of ice on the puddles. Who knows Maybe I'll get a little sap after all?

[BrianL]

Heard the peepers for the first time last night here.

[PerryW]

Still hovering within 2 degrees of the freezing mark for the last 48 hours or so. Not sure whether the trees have froze enough of not, but I'll boil what ever comes out. Either way, it's been an excellent year.

EDIT 2:15: Looks like my colder taps are running some but the warm taps are not. Will pick up the sap at 5 PM and boil up what I got.

[PerryW]

Picked up 100 gallons of clear sap from the buckets and Lyman Tubing, almost nothing from my 600 taps in Littleton. Pulled off another 2 gallons of Grade B for a season total of 143 gallons so far. Syrup starting to taste a little strong now, but still no bud smell or taste. We'll see if we get a freeze tonite.

[PerryW]

Picked up 125 gallons of sap and took off 3 gallons of C. Definite Metabolic taste, but not buddy. Most of my tubing runs have quit running even though ther was a pretty good freeze last night. Up to 146 gallons. I may pick up what sap runs in the next 24 hours and call it a season.

[PerryW]

Picked up 50 gallons of sap and rinsed the upper half of my 600 tap bush. Pulled some of my buckets and smaller tanks. Will boild up the sap in the morning and get a final tally somewhere around 148 gallons. great season for me! Almost tripled last year's 51 gallons!

[Homestead Maple]

Last gather for the season. The sap smells a little like apple cider!

[PerryW]

I finally smelled the infamous buddy smell when boiling up my last 50 gals. Just yesterday, the steam smelled good.

It made finishing up the season easier, as I just chased the last sap though with some water and took off the front pan, then dumped the back pan. Scrubbed out the the pans, drained them, filled them w/ water and dumped 2 gallons of vinegar in each pan.

Never used vinegar before (always used pan acid). Any tips?

[Homestead Maple]

I can ask a friend that has used it this year on his front pan when the sap wasn't running during a cold spell. He said that it cleaned up the pan really well and didn't take long but then again there wasn't much sugar sand buildup for either of us this season until the last week or so. I'll find out if he diluted the white vinegar with some water or used it straight.
I finished up with 355 gals. made. Ok, but not any where's near the 1/2 gallon per tap that some make. It was all dark or better grade.

[PerryW]

I can ask a friend that has used it this year on his front pan when the sap wasn't running during a cold spell. He said that it cleaned up the pan really well and didn't take long but then again there wasn't much sugar sand buildup for either of us this season until the last week or so. I'll find out if he diluted the white vinegar with some water or used it straight.
I finished up with 355 gals. made. Ok, but not any where's near the 1/2 gallon per tap that some make. It was all dark or better grade.

I cleaned my front pan mid-season w/ vinegar but I mixed it really strong and only cleaned the bottom. Today, I heated up my back pan let my back pan soak for 2 hours and the nitre cam off great. (Acid is a little quicker) The front pan is still soaking and I will probably wash tubing tomorrow and leave it till friday. I want to get some of the buildup in trhe sides that had been there for a few years.

1/2 gal per tap is but a dream for my operation! LOL. I guess i really don't know how many taps I have anyway. I say 750, but it could be more or less. I really don't want to make much more syrup than I did this year (149 gallons)., so I see no reason to upgrade to vacuum. As a one-man operation, I am happy with the amount of time that sugaring takes up in my life.

[PerryW]

took off another 3 gallons of C w/ slight buddy taste. went for quick shut-down and chased the syrup out w/ some water and dumped the back pan.

Final total = 149 gallons, best year since 2000, 4th best year in 25 years!

Washes my tanks 60


3-7 sweetened the pans
3-8 6 gal fancy
3-10 4 gal fancy
3-12 11 gal fancy
3-25 10 gal fancy
3-26 12 gal fancy
3-27 16 gal fancy
3-28 8 gal fancy
3-29 2 gal fancy
3-31 10 gal fancy/medium
4-1 5 gal medium
4-4 6 gallons dark amber
4-5 15 gallons dark amber
4-6 2 gallons medium amber
4-7 8 gallons medium amber
4-8 8 gallons medium amber
4-9 6 gallons Dark-Grade B
4-10 2 gallons Vermont C
4-13 2 gal Vermont C
4-14 2 gal Vermont C
4-15 3 gal c
4-17 3 gal c (buddy)
---------------------
total = 149 gal (average year = 110 gal)

[PerryW]

Back pan is clean, front pan soaking w/ vinegar solution, 600 tap bush is all rinsed out, buckets are washed and put away.

Only a couple small take-down tubing runs to rinse and wind up, a couple tanks and I'll be ready to replace the 9.5 cords of softwood I used to make 149 gallons.

Gonna continue to thin out the maples this off-season. A win-win situation. Sell the firewood and softwood logs and end up with healthier maple trees!