dark shavings over light?

[seandicare]

i decided to tap a huge tree this year. it is a good 4.5ft thick.......the first half inch of the tap hole was dark brown, then it turned light. was i just going through the bark layer? first time i ran into this.

[WestfordSugarworks]

Probably just going through bark. As long as the deeper sections of the shavings were good looking wood, you're prob ok.