Mt Washington Valley sap report

[n8hutch]

Got 140 taps out over the weekend, collected 90 gallons yesterday, some buckets were full & some had very little. Hope to get 200 more out this weekend, going to run some water through the new pans tonight.

[n8hutch]

No real sap yesterday, some of the trees in the sun had half full pails. 4° at the house this morning so doubt it will run today.

[optionguru]

We've got 77 taps out so far and have collected 15 gallons this week. I'm directly west of you but I'm assuming you're just a touch warmer. Was really hoping for something today and tomorrow to try and boil on Sunday. Not looking good.

[n8hutch]

Pete I travel through Lisbon every other month or so. Nice area, I was honestly surprised I got as much sap as I did, A lot of my Maples are big roadside/ Hedgerow trees or trees around old farm houses, The ones around the house ran great, no frost in the ground I am guessing. The ones on the Roadsides not as well. Hopefully get some real sap soon.

[n8hutch]

Put out 30 more taps tonight & collected 40 gallons of sap. Think I have 175 taps out. I need to count better next time I collect.

[maple maniac65]

you will find that the season starts earlier on that side of NH.

[n8hutch]

We tend to get more snow over here. We get a lot of sun though too. You never know what kind of weather your going to get in sugar hill. I imaging it tends to be windier over there.

[NhShaun]

I am a little behind, but heading up to Wakefield to start tapping tomorrow. South of the Mt Washington valley but temps can relate.

[n8hutch]

Good luck Shaun. I don't think you really missed much if Any sap. I would say your right on schedule. Get your taps in you might get a nice run Tuesday. Might get some taps out on your piece over here this weekend.

[NhShaun]

Glad i didn't miss much sap flow! Most of my taps are on buckets, so it shouldn't take too long to get all tapped in. Let me know how that goes over on my 1 acre. Glad someone can make use of some of those big maples!

[n8hutch]

Some trees ran good today. Didn't check them All. Going to collect tomorrow & boil for the first time this season & with my New Rig. Put out another 35 taps today on 3/16. Some holes were wet when I drilled them some dry.

[n8hutch]

Collected another 100 gallons today. I had 260 gallons so I finally lit the fire. I have to say what an easy to operate unit my Smokey Lake 30" x8' raised flue is. I almost have syrup already & I only have 260 gallons through it. Probably helps my sap was at 2.5, I will post some pics tomorrow, the gradient is awesome in the syrup pan. Also put 50 more taps out this morning. Think I'm over 300 know. Good luck out there.

[PerryW]

Glad your happy with you new rig. Takes about 400 gallons to sweeten the pans and be "Almost syrup" on my 3x10 raised flue rig. Still not enough of a sap run yet here in the Littleton area to get started yet.

[n8hutch]

Sap ran a little yesterday. Didn't really get going till after 2:00 pm, going to collect it All tonight & hopefully have enough to boil.

[n8hutch]

Collected 140 gallons tonight. Boiled it down & had 2 draws of about 1-1/2 gallons. Probably went about an hour in between draw offs. As I shut down I was right there ready for another one I had 56 on the hydro . probably drew off 3 gallons of sweet to dump back in when I fire up again. Doubt it will be till Sunday at the earliest. Looks like golden delicate to me, tastes delicate. I will let you guys be the judge.

[Ian MacMillan]

The wife and I are starting this year with a few buckets here I'm Wakefield. Got 10 out this week and they are producing well so far.

[n8hutch]

10 buckets could net you 2.5 gallons of syrup with any luck. Its a lot of work & fun at the same time. Good luck on your first season. Many more to come I'm sure.

[n8hutch]

Well it has been fridged here like everywhere else in new England last few days, checked Evaporator last night it was froze up pretty tight so I built a pretty good fire in it took about an hour to thaw. Buckets stayed pretty good in the wind. Saw a lot of galvanized buckets blown around & lids too from other tappers. Might get a little sap this afternoon but it is definitely going to take awhile to thaw. Only 5° again this morning

[n8hutch]

No sap today, got up to about 37 briefly yesterday , and probably hit 45 today for awhile & the trees still hadn't really thawed at 5pm when it started to cool down again. Back to the Deep Freeze again tonight. Slightly discouraged. Lol what can you do.

[Ian MacMillan]

Same here. We got about a half gallon from ours. Snowed most of the day while the temps went up but not enough to thaw em out. Looking forward to what the next two weeks brings starting Tuesday.

[NhShaun]

The wife and I are starting this year with a few buckets here I'm Wakefield. Got 10 out this week and they are producing well so far. Another person sugaring in Wakefield, where abouts are you located ?

[Ian MacMillan]

Shaun, I'm on Grandview Loop at the top Wakefield Hill.

[n8hutch]

I put out another 40 taps tonight. Checked some of my buckets in the windy areas & found some full buckets. Guess I will collect tomorrow & start with empty pails Wednesday & see what we get. Think I am up to 350 taps. Going to get an exact count next time I collect.

[Ian MacMillan]

I checked mine at 1400hra. Nothing other than a 1/4 cup in any, including the ones in full sun all day.

Here's to hoping that tomorrow starts out the swing of things!

[n8hutch]

Made another gallon of syrup tonight, started with a 100 gallons of sap, just got boiling good & had to shut her down. Lightest syrup I have ever made. Mine is the left most one in the sample

[NhShaun]

Oh not too far, I'm just north of Lovell lake.
Shaun, I'm on Grandview Loop at the top Wakefield Hill.

[NhShaun]

Had a decent run yesterday, collected about 35 gallons of sap. Hoping we get a bunch after the next night below freezing. I really need to sweeten my pans... haha

[n8hutch]

How many Taps did you get out? Total? Should run today really as frozen as everything was, yard trees that have been thawed awhile probably won't ,but I would & hope the woods trees will

[NhShaun]

Honestly i lost count. I have about maybe 15 or 20 more to put out and that's it. I ran out of tubing for drop lines so i guess ill have to buy another roll. I'm guessing its somewhere around 125 -150 but who knows. I'll do a real count once i get back up north on Friday. Hoping my buckets are all full by then, then i can start boiling!

[Ian MacMillan]

My woods trees are producing squat. Got a half gal off 16. The trees at the wood line produced all of it.

[n8hutch]

Same here Ian ,I checked mine this after noon, 3/16 lines are running good, & trees in the sun ran well, but some still refuse to thaw, the few Reds I tapped ran great today, go figure.

[Ian MacMillan]

Same here Ian ,I checked mine this after noon, 3/16 lines are running good, & trees in the sun ran well, but some still refuse to thaw, the few Reds I tapped ran great today, go figure.

All my reds are in the woods and they haven't even come close to wetting my taps. I've still got about crotch deep snow out there so it's gonna be a while. Dog loves trudging through the bush with me to look at nothing though!

[optionguru]

Sad to say but I'm happy to hear there's not much going on for anyone, I keep thinking I did something wrong this year. My yearly paranoia setting in. It's tough when you hear about all the big numbers from people further south. For the 4th time, I'll say, next week is going to be the week :)

[PerryW]

pete, doesn't look like they are getting much in So. NH either. They were reporting an operation in Temple (near peterboro) on WMUR who had only made 270 gallons. at this time last year, they were at 2000.

[n8hutch]

I collected 200 gallons today on my 350 taps, a few trees that hadn't given a drop finally let a little sap go, made 5 gallons of syrup. Had a big draw when I first got going. Probably 3 gallons, I'll try not to do that again, started drawing at about 219-220 and next thing I know I'm st 223, got a little close but it all flowed out with no issues. Rest of the way I had nice slow half gallon draws every 15 minutes. I think next week is going to be a good one.

[Ian MacMillan]

Would love for the flood gates to open up. I've spent a lot of time looking at nothing over the last week. Tried staring my trees down with no effect.

[n8hutch]

Bottled my syrup from Friday night today. Actually made 4&3/4 gallons. About 9 total for the season. Still a long way from 75 gallons but I am on my way. Check my 3/16 lines this afternoon & they were running great. Going to collect tomorrow. Happy sappin out there

[Ian MacMillan]

Pulled a half gal off 6 buckets today. The 9 woods trees did not give up anything.

[PerryW]

Bottled my syrup from Friday night today. Actually made 4&3/4 gallons. About 9 total for the season. Still a long way from 75 gallons but I am on my way. Check my 3/16 lines this afternoon & they were running great. Going to collect tomorrow. Happy sappin out there

You seem to be doing better that most of the north country. I've got 2 gallons but by expected season total is 110 gallons.

[n8hutch]

Yeah I have been lucky so far. My taps will probably dry up a couple weeks before you guys up that way. Stopped at Fullers in Lancaster yesterday & got some Glass . they had only made 280 gallons on 10,000 taps. So your not alone

[n8hutch]

Collected 300 gallons today, I was literally shocked! Boiled in 200 gallons of it & drew off 6 gal & 3 pt of syrup so obviously it was good stuff, didn't take the time to test it. Over 15 gallons now, maybe I will hit 75 after all.

[n8hutch]

Collected another 200 gallons today, collection is getting much easier & faster with the receding snow, got all 350 taps collected in 1:15 min, made 5 more gallons of light syrup, just over 20 gal now, still have sap in the tank, will run that tomorrow night.

[NhShaun]

Wow seems like you are killing it with the sap flow nate ! You just might hit that 75 Gallon mark after all. Did you end up tapping my trees ?

I collected 90 gallons on Tuesday evening and another 80 gallons yesterday evening. Around 130 taps in, my goal for the season is around 25 gallons. I drew 1 gal of syrup ready to bottle today. Spending all day today boiling down all the sap I've got collected, should get a couple gallons of finished syrup by this evening. Heading to sunnyside maples to pick up some more tubing for drops and of course I can't resist putting in some more taps.

Hoping for a good run today for all of you NH folks.

[n8hutch]

I collected 150 gallons last night, only collected the real good runners. Had 5-6 pails over flowing, should get some good sap today, 17°over night & headed for 45 with some low pressure coming this afternoon. Have my syrup pan soaking & going to drain & rinse my flue pan tonight.

[Ian MacMillan]

The last two days have been great for me finally. I'm averaging a half gallon per tap per day. After a horrible week last week, I'm happy so far.

[PerryW]

well tomorrow and friday ought to get those stubborn north-facing slope trees finally kicking into gear!

[n8hutch]

well tomorrow and friday ought to get those stubborn north-facing slope trees finally kicking into gear! I Hope so, Only Half my Trees have really Been Running Well, Don't Get me wrong I am not complaining, but It would be nice to get some sap from my colder trees

[n8hutch]

Got another 200 gallons of syrup today, boiled for 3 hours & got 5 more gallons of syrup, looks like medium amber, or whatever its called now"don't have the sticker's in front of me" Hard to say what tomorrow will be like. I guess we'll have to wait & see, I would be surprised if it warms up like they say it is going to, Its already colder than they said it would be tonight.

[Ian MacMillan]

Was only able to draw of about a half gal last night. Turned out to be Amber. Turned out opaque though. Not cloudy but "dense"11540


The bottle on the right is from Bens grading sampler for comparison. I think I'm still having some filter problems.

[optionguru]

Ian, how are you filtering?

[Ian MacMillan]

Pete,
I filter into the holding tank and then filter when I draw off to my bottler. The bottler has the prefilters and then the filter. After just chatting with a buddy of mine I'm 100% sure this is operator error. I'm doing a large boil Monday...ok to dump this half gal into that and start it over?

[n8hutch]

You could do that,or you could reheat it & filter it again.

[Ian MacMillan]

Roger that.


Collected 15 gal today by 1300hrs. Would of had about 2 more but one of the sacs fell off a damaged spile and was empty.

[n8hutch]

Collected Another 200 gallons today, & boiled in about that much sap, over thirty gallons for the season.Cleaned sap & syrup pans earlier this week and I am back to making golden delicate. Have about 400 gallons to boil tomorrow, hopefully have some visitors & sell some syrup. Had a local Farm stand interested in carrying my syrup , they are open year around so hopefully we can make a deal

[n8hutch]

Boiled in the rest of my sap today, made 9+ gallons, just over 40 gallons for the season. Looks like it may run tomorrow. Good luck to everyone else out there.

[NhShaun]

Hoping it ran good today, i was back home in Nashua for a family gathering. Heading back up in the morning to collect and then boil my 80 gallons of sap that i already have stored, hopefully all my other buckets are full to. Quite a few warm days ahead, hopefully this isn't the end.

[PerryW]

Hoping it ran good today, i was back home in Nashua for a family gathering. Heading back up in the morning to collect and then boil my 80 gallons of sap that i already have stored, hopefully all my other buckets are full to. Quite a few warm days ahead, hopefully this isn't the end.

I wager that you will be happy when you look in your buckets!

[n8hutch]

I didn't get home in time to check my buckets yesterday, Had to go to East bum For Easter,"Greenfield NH" got home at 7, probably have a few buckets running over but what can you do! Collect it tonight

[NhShaun]

It's hard to decide if over flowing buckets is a good thing or a bad thing. You are wasting sap but also have a full bucket. I suppose it's more good than bad. Hoping high yields for all in this final stretch of the season.

[n8hutch]

Collected 425 gallons today, probably 20 pails were running over, 3 pails had been redistributed by the wind. All & all it was a good sap day. Will try to get it boiled tomorrow night.

[NhShaun]

looks like Thursday might be end for me. The Temps aren't evening dipping into the 30s at night and 50s -60s during the day. that's a pretty bad 7 day forecast :/

[Ian MacMillan]

Pulled 13gal yesterday and I had skipped collection on Sunday. Not as good as I wanted. We were cold and snowy most of yesterday and finally saw the sun around 1700hrs. Clouds rolled in again about 100 hrs but not much warmed up too too much. Ran some but I'm not expecting much this evenings collection.

Boiled all day yesterday and doing so today as well.

[n8hutch]

Collected another 200 gallons today- pretty good for no freeze last night, got about 250 boiled in tonight, pulled off 6.5 gallons. Still making golden delicate, I think I could go at least another week if the weather cooperates. Can't do much about that. Still 400 in tanks so I have a busy week ahead.

[NhShaun]

Sounds like you've got your hands full. I guess your weather forecast looks different than mine. I'm not seeing any days below freezing for the next week.

[n8hutch]

Collected another 220 gallons today, wondering what it might do tonight with a storm coming through. Will see tomorrow. At 47 gallons & have 575 in the tanks.

[n8hutch]

Boiled today too nasty outside to do much of anything else, made another 6-7 gallons. Didn't get it bottled, collected another 200 gallons tonight, trees may be slowing down a little, I think I could survive another week , still making very light syrup but the flavor seems to be getting stronger. There's a couple light freezes in next week forecast, if it just gets a little colder than predicted I might make it through next weekend, getting low on wood so that might help me decide when to say Uncle.

[n8hutch]

Got 150 gallons today, not bad for no freeze last night, going to boil what I have tonight & tomorrow, about 600 gallons, should be close to the 70 gallons mark tomorrow, maybe more. Going to hold the sweet for a few days & hope for one or 2 more runs, would like to make some dark syrup for my dark stuff lovers. Its funny, some people even want syrup with a little grit in it. I laugh & tell them I can't sell it like that. Cracks me up though. Spend all that time filtering & the old timers could care lesd

[n8hutch]

Surprise I got 160 gallons today, didn't think it froze last night but it must have. No freeze predicted for tonight but its already 36 and the sky is clear so I've got my fingers crossed.

[NhShaun]

Its funny, some people even want syrup with a little grit in it. I laugh & tell them I can't sell it like that. Cracks me up though. Spend all that time filtering & the old timers could care lesd That is pretty funny. Do you make special batches for that person? They would have loved my syrup last year, I just used pre filters so all my syrup was gritty and cloudy. It certainly won't kill you, but you really can't sell it like that, especially if bottling in glass.
I should be all done boiling and bottling tomorrow. Looks like I'll be at right around 12 gallons for the season. No where near what I was expecting or hoping for, but that's still a ton of syrup !!

[n8hutch]

No I don't sell any syrup that hasn't been through a "felt" filter, it was 26 at the house this morning so I am hoping for a good run today .I didn't boil the 160 I got yesterday so I put 5 bags of Ice in the tank. Hopefully it will keep till tonight.

[n8hutch]

Got 100 gallons today. Seems like some of my trees are getting tired, probably have one more run this week & call it a season. I think I will hit 75 gallons no problem, might even get over 80.

[n8hutch]

Well boiled late last night, made another 6 gallons, up to 70 gal for the season. Syrup is still light, barely amber rich. All the local guys have pulled their taps, I guess I will this weekend, I think I will get some on Thursday. But who knows.

[n8hutch]

Got a Frost this morning, 27 on the therm, hopefully get some sap today, buds are not out in my neighborhood, but 5 miles down the road the tops of all the maples are greenish brown.

[Jpitreau]

Pulled all 75 taps today. Sad day!

[n8hutch]

I got 80 gallons today. Hardly worth collecting but I want to try & make a little dark syrup. Unless I get an awful lot tomorrow I think I might just save it to clean my pans with. Figure I'll save some money on vinegar.

[PerryW]

I got 50 gallons of cloudy sap. I boiled it, but didn't have enough to take off. Looks like a better freeze tonite. I figure I'll give the trees one more chance.

[n8hutch]

Made 2-1/2 gallons of Dark robust tonight. Smelled a little off while boiling ,but the syrup tastes great. Didn't foam particularly bad it just smelled almost like yeast. I guess we shall see what tomorrow brings.

[PerryW]

got to 23 degrees early this morning. Looks like the last potential run for me today. Will most likely start pulling taps tomorrow. At 109 gallons, I'm only 1 gallon short of my average. Lots of good tasting Light Amber this year!

[n8hutch]

Perry, sounds like you had a good season after the slow start, I am pretty happy with the amount I got. I think I will end up with around 80 gallons. And I Have already found many areas for improvement. I also have a 50 acre lot with the potential for 500 gravity Taps to look at that is 2000 ft down the street that my great grandparents used to tap.

[Ian MacMillan]

I pulled all of mine on Tuesday as they had barely been producing anything for the last few days. Boiling off the remaining 50 gal tonight.


Moved some of the taps to birch Tuesday and that is producing about 50 - 55 gal a day on 10 taps.

[n8hutch]

I collected 100 gallons today. Much clearer sap than yesterday's. Going to boil it tomorrow. Pulled all the buckets while I was collecting, still have 3 gravity runs to pull, I'll pull them over the weekend. My 3/16 line with 35 taps on it gave me 40 gallons today, all other taps roughly 300, gave me 60 gallons, that 3/16 definitely works

[n8hutch]

Boiling off the sweet today, think I am at about 75 gallons so far, probably end up with 80.

[n8hutch]

Drained the Back pan and Filled with water, rigged the Hot float so it wouldn't open and boiled off the sweet in the syrup pan, I would just pour 2 gallons of sweet in the float box every 20 min or so, was able to draw off about 4 gallons of syrup before I had to stop . took 3 hrs, drained the pan & finished the last 4 gallons on the propane burner. Ended up with just over 80 gallons for the year.

No the clean up begins. Probably head up to st Albans & swanton on Saturday to see what I might buy this year.

[NhShaun]

How much of that 80 gallons will you keep for your self ?

The clean up begins. I finally pulled all my taps and collected my buckets today. Left them all out to fill with rain water for a nice rinse before I air dry and stack them for summer storage. Cleaning things with no running water is a task. At least I've already finished cleaning my pans, that was a task. All in all I'd say it was a good season for my second year, with 10 gallons of tasty syrup to Sell and hoard the rest. Looking to get a 2x6 arch made over the summer to fit my pans. Hopefully I can sell enough syrup to at least fund half of that haha.

[Ian MacMillan]

Shaun if you ever need running water for stuff just swing by the house and take care of what you need.


Don't mind our German Shepherd...he's only broke 3/8" cable 3 times.

[n8hutch]

Looking to get a 2x6 arch made over the summer to fit my pans. Hopefully I can sell enough syrup to at least fund half of that haha.

I will keep 10 gallons or so for myself, give probably 5 or so to various neighbors that I tapped their Trees & sell the other 50 I have left, already sold 15 Gallons, the farm stand is supposed to order some syrup shortly. I am actually concerned I might have to buy a little syrup to keep the Farm stand satisfied. We will see.

As Far as the arch goes I will help you any way I can. I would keep your eyes peeled for a older used arch, or just buy the materials & build it. You can Fasten 95% of it with hardware. Might need a welder to build a door & cut the opening in the front.

[NhShaun]

Shaun if you ever need running water for stuff just swing by the house and take care of what you need.


Don't mind our German Shepherd...he's only broke 3/8" cable 3 times. haha Thanks for the offer, I really appreciate it. I took care of all my washing with the neighbors 250 ft hose. How did the birch syrup thing go for you ?

[n8hutch]

I Dragged my Feet as long as I could but decided to Tap this weekend. Weather man says it's going to be cold next week but I just don't believe him.

Put 80 taps out Saturday & 150 out Sunday & another 20 yesterday afternoon. Got another 150 maybe 200 to go if I have time this weekend, setting up 100-125 on High Vac . I have all the materials just need to get them up, the wire is up & tight.

Collected 165 gallons last night & got to boil for 2 hours. 3 weeks ahead of last year. Anyone else going in the Valley?

[Jpitreau]

105 in in fryeburg. Haven't gathered yet. Everything was froze up today. New evaporator is ready to go!

[derekp]

Awesome Nate!Goodluck...I got 130 or so out on Sunday and another 150 in tonight...bit early for me but I agree, I don't believe the weather man either. Every week has been warmer than expected for the last month. Hopefully after this Wednesday- Thurs warm spell I'll be able to sweeten the pans!!

[n8hutch]

Well I didn't get the warm weather they got elsewhere in NH yesterday but I still managed to get 80 gallons of sap. Boiled it down tonight & managed to draw off a gallon of Amber rich syrup. Just a shade darker than golden.

Also added A oil Burner for under fire air. What a difference in boil rate that made. Hopefully I can get my air tight front on this weekend. Looks kinda stupid leaning up against the wall.


Hopefully everyone will get a good sap run sunday.

[n8hutch]

Sap Ran A little the last couple Days, got 200 Gallons boiled it down & made about 5 gallons of Amber rich Syrup. Still Haven't Had a real sap run should be getting 4-500 gallons a day.

[derekp]

Same up here..Yesterday was the best run so far..boiled 200 gallons last night..pans are sweet and even pulled off a bit of syrup...gunna fall below zero here Thursday...debating if I should drain the pans or not..dn if the light bulb will be enough to keep things from freezing

[n8hutch]

Boy has it been slow in this part of the state, made about 10 gallons so far for the season, that's a little less than 10% of my goal. Haven't collected since last Wednesday. I did manage to get my new Air tight front on over the weekend. Hopefully Try it out tomorrow Night.

[n8hutch]

Got 250 gallons yesterday and made about 6 gallons of Amber . Got to Try out my Air tight Front. It works great. It has its own blower smaller one in the picture that forces air through the door and exits in a Dozen places around the inside of the door opening inside the arch. Adding that air to my forced draft created by my other gutted oil burner and I get stack Temps between 950 and 900 with I A freshly stoked fire box. When it drops to 800 I refire. Before I put the front on my stack Temps were about 700.

Only complaints I have is the Door is a little Small and It is blowing alot of embers out the stack.

But the increase in boil rate. I'm up to 80+ gallons an hour and it certainly looks like my flues are not sooting up due to the hot fire. Are a great bonus.

[Jpitreau]

Airtight front looking good! Where did you get the drawoff pails?

[n8hutch]

I buy them on E-Bay when I see them for a good buy. 90 on the high end and 60 on the cheaper. I still like them more than the pails you can buy from maple outfits.

[Dill]

If you know any diaries ask around once the rim cracks they won't hold vac and can be had cheap. I use the same pail. They hold syrup warmer for much longer than a single wall bucket.

[Jpitreau]

Cool. I'll check it out.

[n8hutch]

Collected 240 gallons today. Nothing great like I'd hoped but I'll take it. Trees are starting to bud out in town but they look good out here. Hoping for some more good days. Up to 17.5 gallons for the season. That's a long way from 100.

[derekp]

Less than desirable up here too Nate. Picked up 190 gallons on 320 taps today..my 175 on gravity only pulled in 90 gallons...my 135 on shurflo pulled in 100 gallons...best run for me so far, but was hoping for better..maybe Monday will change things! Only bottled up 5 gallons so far...on a good note, my new pans crank!gunna need more taps next year!!

[n8hutch]

Derek I've noticed that the temp has been dropping a little every day on the long range forecast for next week. Hopefully we can get a few runs that they are not predicting. I got 100 gallons this morning. Most of that was on my 3/16 tubing. Wind blew like crazy here last night. Actually had a tree on my service this morning and no power. So I collected everything just so I could fix any problem pails. Especially with the rain coming tomorrow. & let's face it I need the exercise. Crossing my fingers that I can get 2 more weeks. Good luck up there on the other side of the notch. I might take a ride up that way next weekend if I have no sap.

[Jpitreau]

Been boiling all weekend. Cleaned up tanks. Made about 10 gallons. Our new smoky lake hybrid was awesome. Hopefully the weather cooperates the next couple weeks. This morning was around 125 gallons. A couple more of those would be nice

[derekp]

Pretty bummed..flood gates opened today and picked up 240 gallons..fired up the rig and pulled off some pretty good stuff..few draws later, I could smell a difference in the steam..syrup pan started to smell like burnt popcorn...started pulling off some metabolic crap syrup...defeated, i shut down the rig and walked away..this was the first good run that we have had up here..hope the trees straighten out after this week...then, before coming in the house, I checked the lone bucket in the yard and...13816 ..thanks mother nature for rubbing salt on the wound

[Jpitreau]

Pretty bummed out about the complete lack of sap. Should I call it quits? My trees appear to have some buds......they all do around here at this point! Weather looks good after friday. Finally got everything set up good and it feels like it's over.....

[n8hutch]

I have collected 250 gallons the last 2 days. Been boiling it down. I haven't detected any off flavors. Syrup did get a little darker. No buds showing over here on this side of town. Up to 30 gallons. Still hoping for 1 more week. Would like to get at least 50 gallons.

I guess the big soft Maples outhe in the sun are starting to bud. Fortunately I don't have but maybe 3 or 4 of those.

I think you should be ok up there in Berlin / Gorham, sucks if you loose that sweet. You could still have a couple more good weeks up there.

[derekp]

Well I may have been over critical of the syrup..tasted it today once it went through the filter and it tastes fine...could have been the lack of sleep playing with my mind..things lightened up today..boiled off 200 gallons after work and made about 5 gallons or so of what looks like amber...got about 12 gallons to bottle up tomorrow before maple weekend on top of the 5 I have already bottled..still have 125 gallons in the truck and didnt check my bush in gorham today..so hopefully getting a few hundred more gallons tomororow..kicking into high gear up here..thank god for that shurflo

[n8hutch]

That's great Derek glad your syrup was ok. I have noticed some odd smells coming from boiling sap at times & the syrup still tasted great.

I have tasted the metabolic stuff too and buddy syrup and it is not very good.

Got 200 Gallons here yesterday. Looking like a real good week. Hopefully make another 15 -20 Gallons and be happy with that.

[Jpitreau]

Some of my trees have tight buds. Being paranoid I went and tested sap from every tree and it all seemed ok. Smelled the steam and found nothing that was off. This week looks like the last good push. Nate, I would love to see your setup.....Any chance I could swing by?

[n8hutch]

You can come by anytime. I should be boiling tonight after 6. Or I'll be around all week.

[n8hutch]

Collected 450 gallons of sap over the last few days. Over 45 gallons now. Still grade A Dark, sugar content is holding above 2. Maybe I can go another week.

[derekp]

Glad your still going strong..I came down with the flu at 2 30am the morning before maple weekend kicked off..been down and out since then. Now my little man, 9 months old has it..haven't been able to turn the pump on or collect all week...hoping tomorrow things will turn around...not a good time of year to be laid up for a week..

[n8hutch]

That sucks that you have been sick, same thing at our house 8 month old on antibiotics for an ear. infection and on eye drops for conjunctivitis. Well guess what Dad caught it from the kid. More or less over it now.

Collected about 800 gallons since friday. I think the sugar is dropping but other than that still making good quality syrup, actually lightened up yesterday. Some of my good trees are starting to slow down so I know that the end is near. I think i will get over 60 gallons tomorrow so that would be great compared to how things looked for awhile
Hopen your getting some good sap up there.

[derekp]

Glad your feeling better as well..tough with a 5 yr old bringing home school jerms to pass on to everyone!! Things opened up this past weekend..picked up around 600 gallons today, could only haul about 475 of it home...ran a few hundred gallons through the evap then bottled up 7 gallons...I've been stuck on dark for a bit now..looked like it was getting lighter but it's still dark...my sap from berlin is a bit cloudy, and the sap from gorham is crystal clear...hate mixing them but it's all gotta get to the shack!

[n8hutch]

Sap is slowing down. Only 350 gallons over the last 2 days. I think my trees are trying to tell me something. Buds look fine. I'm guessing that the tap holes have had it, going on 6 weeks this Saturday. Probably about done. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

[derekp]

Still setting records up here...got 220 gallons on 135 trees today..tank was overflowing tonight...didn't make it to gorham tonight to check what went on down there..150 gallons at lunch time so I'm assuming over 200 gallons down there. Will find out tomorrow...syrup is back to amber and prob the most flavorful yet. Real good stuff...gunna need more syrup storage just to keep up!

[CampHamp]

Great late runs derekp! When did you tap? Do you use the check valve spouts?

I tapped Jan 31st and even with check valve spouts, my flow rates have died way down. I pulled taps on 2 early-budders and those taps seemed pretty leaky when you blow backwards, so maybe there's some manufacturing issue with this batch. Sap was pretty clear and tastes fine -- made good (but small) dark batch last night. Even after the good freeze Tues night, it was really only half a typical run. I expect trees will pop today/tomorrow with this warmth, but I've said that a couple times already this year! Real cold days after that or I'd be pulling taps today.

[n8hutch]

That's Awesome Derek. I Used some 5 gallon pails to hot pack syrup in this year. Fullers has them in stock. I think that they are like 12 dollars with the lid. But they are safe for Hot Packing. Not All food grade pails are. Or you can spend the big money on a Drum.

[n8hutch]

I got another 100 gallons today. Kinda had a busy afternoon so I put a fair amount of Ice in it & hopefully it will keep till tomorrow. I think i am going to boil out on Saturday and call it a season.

[derekp]

Saps still flowing here..boiled off 200+ gallons every night since monday and still have around 400 gallons in the tanks..gunna cut out of work early tomorrow and try to get caught up. Jamie, I used the regular disposable clear spouts, not CVs for my Berlin bush that is hooked up to the shurflo. I tapped the last week of February. I tried out the DSD star line taps in my Gorham bush. The tap hole is just smaller than .25". So far, for a gravity system they seem to work great. My sap in Berlin turned cloudy today. Yesterday it was clear. Gorham is still clear as can be. Only problem now is I only have enough wood for 2 more boils...supposed to freeze up for 3 days starting this weekend so I hopefully can scrounge up some wood!!

[n8hutch]

Boiled off the sap pan in the syrup pan yesterday. Made another 8 gallons. I guess it's time to start over again. Still got the cleanup to do. Going to miss boiling I think that's my favorite part.

[Parker]

Over up there? I bet you get good sap the end of the week..........

[n8hutch]

I still have my taps out I just think they are done. I will definitely give it a go if I get enough sap.

[optionguru]

Really hoping for one more good run here. Weather looks like we might get two. Passed last years production a couple days ago so it's all bonus territory now. Good luck everyone.

[Parker]

Did u get a run up there?

[n8hutch]

It is running. A little rough looking stuff. Going to test the sugar content & see if it's worth boiling. Good side is all the good stuff is out of myour evaporator so at least I won't contaminate it with some low quality syrup.

[n8hutch]

Only got 100 gallons and it was pretty nasty, tested 1.4% but it was really pretty rancid. I think my holes are just dried up & my buckets are getting dirty. Saw plenty of trees where the sap suckers had punched holes into that were running like mad. Kinda wish they would just stick to killing my willow tree.

Looks like I'm done for the season at 68 gallons.

[derekp]

All wrapped up here in Berlin/Gorham. Sugar content dropped right off to around 1.2% and was getting quite slimey...plus, I am out of wood...great season for me finishing with about 50 gallons...bottled 43 and still have to reduce what is left in the pans..got about 1/2 of the taps pulled today and have my storage tanks soaking...looking forward to a quick cleanup this year not having to deal with tons of buckets!

[n8hutch]

Yeah I went to a friend's sugar house last night that has a whole new woods on 5/16 that is still running pretty good. Almost 700 taps, the stuff he was boiling last night looked like oatmeal porridge, and smelled like a frat party gone wrong. That being said I didn't think the syrup tasted that bad. I probably would have boiled it too if I got 400 gallons like he did.

[abbott]

Only got 100 gallons and it was pretty nasty, tested 1.4% but it was really pretty rancid. I think my holes are just dried up & my buckets are getting dirty. Saw plenty of trees where the sap suckers had punched holes into that were running like mad. Kinda wish they would just stick to killing my willow tree.

Looks like I'm done for the season at 68 gallons.

I bet you could have reamed the holes and made some more decent syrup, if the sugar % was high enough to make it worth it. Assuming you don't have anything against re-drilling. Sap would have run harder and cleaned out the lines faster.

[markcasper]

the stuff he was boiling last night looked like oatmeal porridge, and smelled like a frat party gone wrong..

Now that, is a good example of why people throw in the towel. frat party gone wrong....LMAO!

[n8hutch]

I bet you could have reamed the holes and made some more decent syrup, if the sugar % was high enough to make it worth it. Assuming you don't have anything against re-drilling. Sap would have run harder and cleaned out the lines faster.

You are probably right about reaming the holes. I considered doing that about 2 weeks ago when it first started to slow down. But the long range only showed 2or 3 potential days for sap runs & I didn't think I would get enough to make it worth going to the trouble of retaping all the tree's and wounding them further. Also the taps don't pull that great after burying them in the tree. There is always next year.

Went trough the corner ofrom Sumner yesterday. My wife wanted to go to New Ballance in Oxford/Norway. Turns out that they don't open till 11. So we decided to go to Rangeley for Lunch. it was a nice day for a ride.

[abbott]

You are probably right about reaming the holes. I considered doing that about 2 weeks ago when it first started to slow down. But the long range only showed 2or 3 potential days for sap runs & I didn't think I would get enough to make it worth going to the trouble of retaping all the tree's and wounding them further. Also the taps don't pull that great after burying them in the tree. There is always next year.

Went trough the corner ofrom Sumner yesterday. My wife wanted to go to New Ballance in Oxford/Norway. Turns out that they don't open till 11. So we decided to go to Rangeley for Lunch. it was a nice day for a ride.

Rangeley isn't exactly on the way...

There are certainly advantages to calling it a season and moving on! Next time you're in the area, let me know if you want to stop in.

[n8hutch]

Yeah we went over streaked Mt. And up 140 to Jay & then 4 to Rangeley. I really wanted to check the lakes out so I had a good idea when the fishing would be good.

I had heard that the lakes never completely Froze over this year. Well somebody didn't tell the Deer that . I saw 4 crossing the lake probably 500 yds out from the outlet strainer in Oquossoc.had to stop & back up so my wife could see them.

Looks like 2-3 weeks for ice out up there. It was only 25° at 1:00pm yesterday.

[n8hutch]

Well I figured I would revive this post for another season, Any Body in the MWV got their Taps In? I'm planning on Tapping this week and Weekend weather conditions permitting. Put up the last 6000ft of laterals this weekend. Feel like I'm way behind but I've put so many hours in around work the last few weeks that Sugaring has taken a back seat.

Hopefully it's A long season I'm sure that I am missing out on Sap this week.

Good luck to everyone out there.

[n8hutch]

Got 200 Gallons of sap today on 200 taps, sure wish I had time to get the other 550 taps in, going to try and get them in before the weekend. Ordered a Guzzler today to put at the Bush, it's a 500 series 12 volt, going to give it a try, will have 350 3/16 taps and 200 5/16 taps on it, kind of a Hybrid system if you will. Probably have my first boil tomorrow night. Sap is still coming in at about 25 gallons an hour. As of 8:30.

[Jpitreau]

We have about 200 in. Dumped the buckets yesterday at about 1 gallon per bucket. Need to get the rest today. Hoping to be around 200 gallons for the day. Thinking we should have another good run today.

[n8hutch]

Another 100 gallons came in overnight, sap was still running at 5:00 am, did have frost on the vehicles but no real freeze, kinda thinking just the 3/16 taps will run today. Glad to see you guys in North Fryeburg got your taps out. Still alot of season left I hope.