Poconos 2020

[Maplewalnut]

No not tapped yet, but this latest warm up was tempting. Almost pulled the trigger on buying a big boy vacuum pump but will stay with the Sp-22's another year. We ran them last year between 23-25 inches with no problem, so I can live with that. Constant wind storms the last few months have kept us busy with fallen trees. Animal chews were very low this year for some reason but I am not complaining. No expansion for this year but looking at another bush for next year and will need to make a decision before maple suppliers early season discount ends later this spring. Good Luck to all

Mike

[Walling's Maple Syrup]

Good luck this year Mike. Looks like we have a good couple weeks of winter coming now. Was a great early run with the taps we had in. Time to finish tapping once this cold sets in. I hope you have a great season.
Neil

[Amber Gold]

The temps this winter have been up and down. Last week, it was mid-60's. Now, we'll be single digits at night for a most of a week.

Good luck this season.

[weaver]

So when's everyone tapping? Im near the Wilkes Barre area and temps this next week are tempting. But never tapped this early. Whatcha all doing?

[HondoLane]

Weaver..

I’m just south of you over by weatherly. I usually tapped the last 2 years around Presidents Day weekend when I was doing buckets. I pulled tapped first week of April. This year I’m running tubing on vacuum. I’m going to pull the trigger this week.

[weaver]

This will be the earliest we ever started but I think we are going to stick a couple in this weekend and see what happens.

[Maplewalnut]

Will have over 1000 in by end of today. Hope to be all tapped by Friday.

[Maplewalnut]

All tapped and boiled for first time yesterday. Normal start up snafus but everything is is dialed in now. Little leak checking in woods left and we should be all set. 3/16ths lines ran like gangbusters yesterday, over 1GPT in 18 hours, better than mechanical vacuum although tough to compare since 3/16ths bush is about 7 miles south and usually a few degrees warmer.

[HondoLane]

First boil tonight!! Got the pan sweetened!

[Maplewalnut]

Have gotten a few runs over the last week or so. Nothing to write home about but consistent.

First time burning pine and hemlock exclusively. Always mixed about 50/50 softwood/hardwood before and will be going back to that mix for next year. When its up and ripping I am adding wood every 3-4 minutes!!! No increase in evaporation rate and I think the hardwood gives you a more consistent firing. In the end we are making syrup and filling barrels so its all good.

[springhillsmaple]

We're up and running. Having a blast with our new RO. Don't know why I waited so long. 175 Gallons in three days with only about 15 hours of boiling and less than two cords of wood.

[Maplewalnut]

Sap not running very well here even with highs in the 40s. Cloudy overcast days have the sap holding tight. Weather looks marginal rest of week with deep freeze coming Thurs into Friday

[Maplewalnut]

Runs have been very consistent the last couple weeks. Even got a 1GPT run on a sunny day last week that temp never got higher than 36 degrees. Fighting some freezing valves etc that come with overnight temps in the single digits but the logistical merry go round of where to put sap to hold a day is fun. Should be good sap weather til Wednesday then time to clean evaporator and acid wash RO waiting for next run

[Maplewalnut]

Wow, what a run overnight. It was perfect storm, thawed ground, hard two day freeze and then sunny 50 degree day with a front moving through. Got more than 1.25 gallon per tap in just over 12 hours and it is still going like gangbusters....

[doocat]

For sure! We are over 2.5 per tap since yesterday at 1400!! Looks like a late night Mike.

[Z/MAN]

Agree Mike, ours are still running like mad.

[Maplewalnut]

The deluge continues but is slowing some. We got more than 2.5gpt over 24 hours again. Tank cleaning is put on hold for now. i need dark syrup anyway����. Good luck to those just starting up north, the sap faucet is about to turn on full bore

[Maplewalnut]

Extended forecast has no freezes after tonight in the 10 day and a 60 degree day on Monday. We tapped earlier than ever before and may end earlier than ever before unless something changes... our end is typically first week in April. I will leave pumps on and see how long I get sap.
Hoping for another freeze or two.

[Z/MAN]

Wow Maplewalnut, the forecast here is one warm night and all the rest below freezing. What a difference a few miles can make. I boiled 5 days in a row this past week and if the forecast is right it's non stop all this week. BUT we will see!

[Maplewalnut]

Well the sap has all but stopped here after no freezes in days but the pumps stay on. Two days to go still without feezing temps and then three days in mid-low 20s at night. Curious to see if that is enough to reset for one last run. No peepers yet so we stay in the game

Mike

[doocat]

Hang on Mike winter is almost here!!

[Maplewalnut]

Still in the game. 2 of 3 bushes still giving clear sap. Finished syrup is very dark but still tastes good. Been a banner year, but still hoping for more. Cold snap coming this weekend but supposed to be in 70s on Friday before cold front blows in. In the words of a past trader from the great state of PA...you gotta want it!!

[Maplewalnut]

Well, still getting decent amount of sap but the finished syrup tastes like crap so we pulled the plug. Don’t you know those darn peepers started singing an hour after we turned the pumps off. I hate those little critters...lol