Sugar Bush Damage

[MapleChaser]

Concern about the snow and ice damage that we are going to be dealing with. My neighbor who has 16000 taps said he will be busy right up until tapping time to get cleaned up.

MC

[BreezyHill]

Well I have been luck so far have not seen any branches or trees down yet. It really sucks when it takes down lines and worst of all if it hits a ladder. That really sucks. But remember it is all part of farming. And it is still only mid December. Our worst ice is usually in another three weeks, for a couple of weeks. Then the February winds drop weak limbs on the lines.

[GeneralStark]

I know I will be dealing with some damage. I haven't been in the woods yet due to other issues, but limbs have been falling, so I'll wait til the dust settles a bit more. Fortunately it appears to only be small trees bending and weak limbs coming down as the larger trees are mostly fine from what I can see. Power has been going on and off and that will likely continue until the snow comes down. Hopefully some sun and warmer temps forecasted for early next week will drop the snow.

[MapleMark753]

We have a two foot hickory down, and a 20 inch "Pennsylvania balsa" down as well, just from normal periodic high winds. At least the hickory should make some great home and evaporator firewood. Anybody use the balsa for firewood ? Hate to waste anything, but its pretty light stuff.
take care, Mark

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

I havent been in woods yet but not to bad here in S Poultney, but Hubbardton is taking a huge hit. Went down through the gulf yesterday and the damage just along the road is amazing, I probably cant get to camp.

[MapleChaser]

Just came in from the woods.75% of my pipe line is on the ground. Roads are completely close off. Weeks And Weeks of work ahead of me.

MC

[jrgagne99]

I just fixed my 150-tap bush after a 1-year hiatus from sugaring. Had about 8-10 downed limbs that needed chainsaw. Done in about an 1.5 hours. Would have been quicker 3 weeks ago before the snow came, but oh well. Glad I don't have 16,000 taps to worry about...

[Maplewalnut]

What is Pennsylvania balsa?

[Walling's Maple Syrup]

I havent been in woods yet but not to bad here in S Poultney, but Hubbardton is taking a huge hit. Went down through the gulf yesterday and the damage just along the road is amazing, I probably cant get to camp.
Any Sasquatch sightings around your area yet this year?

[MapleMark753]

Basswood is what I was referring to with the Pennsylvania Balsa comment. No slam meant to anyone here, just a lighthearted reference.

[GeneralStark]

Just came in from the woods.75% of my pipe line is on the ground. Roads are completely close off. Weeks And Weeks of work ahead of me.

MC

I suspect this is the case for many in our region of the state. I was talking to another sugarmaker this morning with 16,000 and he has not gotten too far into the woods due to safety concerns, but says this is the worst he has seen in quite a while. He has lots of trees tipped up.

I checked a section of our woods yesterday and there are many dead limbs down and lots of tubing and mainline in the snow. No major tree damage, but lots of clean-up to do. Fortunately for me about 1/3 of our tubing was removed for some logging. I got the mainline back up before the snow, but not the tubing. I also have the wire up for 3-400 I am adding this winter, so no damage there to deal with.

Good luck to everyone!

[BreezyHill]

This has been a really odd after storm weather pattern. Snow stayed on the trees on part of the farm while the other it was melted. Elevation difference of only 70' is like night and day....from no damage to trees of 24" snapped off. One maple lost half its crown and another cherry snapped at 2' above the ground. Traveled over the Southern Greens this past weekend and the mtn tops were beautiful but the damage is going to be epic in some places.

[GeneralStark]

It went above freezing here with some light winds yesterday afternoon and I can't believe how quick the snow came down out of the trees. I was hoping to get some stuff done in the woods but some of the snow bombs coming down were pretty substantial in size and moisture content...Today it is 36 and raining.