Long cold intermission

[billyinvt]

I'm hoping that when we finally warm up, my taps will still run. Does a long solid freeze slow the healing process of a tap hole?

[billyinvt]

I guess what I'm asking is, does temperature affect the rate of healing?

[DrTimPerkins]

I guess what I'm asking is, does temperature affect the rate of healing?

"Healing" is kind of an odd way to think about it. If what you're asking is, "will cold weather retard taphole drying?" then the answer is yes....to a fair degree. It does so by both slowing (greatly) microbial growth and also slowing the tree "walling off" response to wounding. So as long as you used very good taphole sanitation practices, you should be fine. I do see that you use buckets....which are naturally more prone to taphole drying. Even so, this cold weather shouldn't be too problematic.

[Slick Willy]

Thanks Dr. T, I'm a bucket man as well and was wondering the same thing. Now if I could just figure out an easy way to walk on 2' of snow to collect the sap! Hoping that it will melt enough to be able to use my 4-wheeler but I doubt that will happen.

[billyinvt]

"Healing" is kind of an odd way to think about it. If what you're asking is, "will cold weather retard taphole drying?" then the answer is yes....to a fair degree. It does so by both slowing (greatly) microbial growth and also slowing the tree "walling off" response to wounding. So as long as you used very good taphole sanitation practices, you should be fine. I do see that you use buckets....which are naturally more prone to taphole drying. Even so, this cold weather shouldn't be too problematic.
Great. Thanks. That was the answer I was hoping for. I know that long warm spells can end a season much sooner than we'd like. I was speculating that long cold spells might prolong it some. my sanitation practices are pretty good for a bucket guy. I scrub, boil, and then bake all my spiles soon before tapping. I can usually get fairly good production from a high percentage of taps for 6 weeks. I'll be at four weeks tomorrow.

[maple flats]

While it's harder than walking on hard ground, a proper pair of snow shoes is how you walk on 2' of snow. We've only had to use them once so far this year, but after getting about 30" new snow in this last storm, I'll bet that will change real soon.
For snow shoes I have 2 sizes of Tubbs type shoes, and I have an Alaskan show and a few pair of military magnesium snow shoes. Which pair I use depends on the snow conditions, While the Tubbs type are far easier to turn, with practice you can navigate with either. I use the military surplus type the most, like these: http://www.sportsmansguide.com/product/index/us-military-surplus-magnesium-snowshoes-with-bindings-new?a=771260
I use the Marc's snowshoe binding https://www.amazon.com/Marcs-Snowshoe-Bindings/dp/B00BG9KGF8 Have tried these https://www.amazon.com/GV-Snowshoes-Rubber-Snowshoe-Bindings/dp/B00ETZQ4PC/ref=pd_sim_200_1?_encoding=UTF8&refRID=PB2K01T9MXXAVJGBB1HM but while they were easy to put on, you don't have the control you get with Marc's.
If you can only afford one pair I suggest the mag's with Marc's bindings. Then when you can get a second pair get one weight rating higher in a Tubbs style because you will be carrying extra weight for sap etc.

[Woodland Acres]

I bought a 30 inch pair from L.L.Bean with the boa bindings . I have 2 sets of the modified bearpaws with the leather bindings . After using the ones with the boa bindings I will never go back to the others.

[Slick Willy]

Thanks for the snowshoe advice maple flats but I got lucky with the warmer weather and was able to get the 4-wheeler through the snow to collect. It helped that I just put chains on the tires too. I'm glad that I was able to use the wheeler because collecting 80 gallons of sap with snowshoes and a sled would've made for quite a bit of work. Let the sap flow!