Nw wi 2020

[GramaCindy]

Well folks, it looks like it's go time. I am having a hard time convincing myself that it really could start this early. But as many, there is very little if no frost in the ground, so things could go quickly. I typically tap around St. Pats day, and wait a bit for things to start, I'd love it if spring is really on her way, it's been a long winter with an early start. I'm in Bayfield County, 20 miles north of Hayward. Good Luck and Happy sapping everyone!
GC

[Dave Evenson]

It's way earlier than I've ever tapped before, but I'm pretty well done, maybe 10 more in places with deep snow. Some of yard trees had a little dripping, not so much in the country. But I'm having a hard time ignoring the 10 day forecast, all sound like sap weather, so we're in. I figure if the big guys on vacuum started tapping weeks ago, just to get them all done, it can't be that hurtful to run. Cumberland, WI Dave Evenson

[14ledo81]

I'm in Ashland County. South of Ashland.

I put taps in late Saturday. Only 19, and had about 3-4 gallons around 2:00 Sunday, so not running to good yet.

Forecast looks good though.

[gouldjs]

Plan to Tap just south of HWY 8 on Wed night in Polk County. Snow pack has came down quite a bit, hopeful to get in with the fourwheeler if possible. I see bags out on several trees in the area, some do have sap. I have been holding out for a big run rather than little drips.

[Dave Evenson]

I checked bags at my country site today, all dripping, from a couple of qts per tap to a gallon, will check again Thursday. Picked up a few gallons around the house.
I'm off to Barnes tomorrow for a Barnes Area Historical Association (BAHA ) planning meeting for next fall's Gordon MacQuarrie Old Duck Hunters Circle event. GramaCindy, just curious, are you part of BAHA? Thanks, Dave Evenson

[GramaCindy]

Hello Dave, not officially, although I am helping with the Saturday dinner for the Gordon M. event in August.

[Dave Evenson]

GramaCindy- sounds official enough! See you in August. Dave

[jbelany]

I'm south of Ashland right on the Bayfield/Ashland County line. 82 bags hung on Sunday. Most had a couple of inches by Monday. Have a friend collecting now, so will know more tonight. We looked at our logbook and are about 2 weeks early. Headed to Smoky Lake Maple on Friday for a new pan.

Good luck!

Joe

[shedhunter]

East of Winter. I tapped on Sunday and its running a little. One bag is almost full and a couple others half. Most have a couple inches. Without much frost in the ground it could be a quick season.

[18mile]

Started trapping this weekend. Will finish tomorrow. Modest runs today. Looking for a good run this coming weekend.

[Dave Evenson]

First boil today, my system can work with as little as 35 gallons- I got about 70 gallons sap from 111 taps, so certainly doesn't qualify as a run, but a nice drip anyway. By far the earliest I've ever tapped or boiled. Dave Evenson

[Dave Evenson]

I boiled the last couple of days, finished off tonight, looks like no run for the next few below freezing days. About 3 gallons per tap so far, only 2.2 to 2.5 sugar, so a lot of boiling required. Rain took out a lot of snow, so easier getting around in woods. Dave Evenson

[GramaCindy]

I was able to get the ATV down the hill to collect my sap line barrel the other day. Snow is still slimy so I have to go early while it's still cold and crusty. Only was able to collect 20 gallons. Luckily, since then, the snow has gone down and with 1/2" or so of rain yesterday, it should be much better. Still nothing really going on up here in Barnes.

[WildRiver]

We started tapping Mar 4, it looked promising, but it's been quite slow. I boiled 235 Gallons of sap yesterday, that was from 200 taps. It's tough going with all the snow. We're near Solon Springs

[Jeff E]

Hi all, Jeff E here near Spooner. We started tapping Birkie weekend, finishing up tapping on March 7. Lots of critter damage to the lines, so it took a few days to get things tight.
Thing really opened up for us yesterday. From about 11pm last night to 7am this morning the trees gave me about 1/2 gallon per tap. Havent check since then, but I think it will be a late night.
Good sap until another freeze up on Friday.
Be well, enjoy the season!

[14ledo81]

Interesting.

I did not check this morning (collected yesterday evening) , but was on the phone with my wife today before noon, and she was outside. She says, "wow this bag is really full". I must have had a decent run late evening as well.

[Dave Evenson]

It must have run all night, I emptied bags yesterday afternoon, and today about noon they had about a gallon. I emptied all the bags as late as I could in the rain before the coming freeze so I don't have such big ice chunks after this weekend, but suspect I'll have some anyway. Will boil tomorrow after the wind dies down at least a little. Dave E

[Jeff E]

We have boiled the last 4 nights in a row- so I am happy for a little freeze up to clean the evaporator, make some minor repairs in the sugar house.
Next week looks like we will all need to be ready to get busy!

With the craziness going on out in the real world, the sugar house is a nice place to be.
Be well all!

[Dave Evenson]

A good hard working day- I picked up a two day run at 2 gallons per tap this afternoon.
I made a faux pas this evening (That means I screwed up, but the French sounds better!) I put my pan to bed for the night, banked the fire, ran in 3 inches of sap to get through the night without burning pan. But I forgot to shut off the head tank when I left. The maple gods were good to me- for some nagging reason I went back out an hour later, found the pan within 3/8 of an inch from overflowing. I scooped out some sap, got the pan down within reason.
I think it's about over, at least for me. I'm tired, almost out of wood, sold a load of sap today, and will sell the rest I get. Pulled 12 of my most remote taps. Dave Evenson, Cumberland

[Jeff E]

Tired....yup!
We had a June bug flying around the yard light. That's early!
My sap is acting like later season sap as well, getting the syrup pan dirty fast with Niter. Still snow in the woods, but really no frost.

By the way Dave-nice save on the pan! I always try and 'listen' to the 'nagging internal voice' too, usually something is up!

[GramaCindy]

My trees have finally kicked into high gear. Used the RB15 bucket yesterday. Definitely a learning curve, but it's amazing. Cooked off 75 and have about 2 gallons ready to finish. Collected my saptank at the bottom of my 3/16 gravity line, full since yesterday at 12.

[Jeff E]

It has been a big week here as well. Should be a decent run today. I would guess we will process about 14K gallons this week.
I'm optimistic for next week as well. still snow around, decent forecast with freezing most nights.
We are on pace for a real good year. Making nice syrup, easy filtering, though making the syrup pan dirty, requiring extensive cleaning after each boil. But that is running 2000+ gallons of sap through it each night.

Be well out there and enjoy the days...the peepers aren't far off. (had a salamander crawl into the sugar house on Wednesday)

[gatzow]

Curious how you clean your syrup pan? Tools, chemicals, etc? Thanks


It has been a big week here as well. Should be a decent run today. I would guess we will process about 14K gallons this week.
I'm optimistic for next week as well. still snow around, decent forecast with freezing most nights.
We are on pace for a real good year. Making nice syrup, easy filtering, though making the syrup pan dirty, requiring extensive cleaning after each boil. But that is running 2000+ gallons of

Be well out there and enjoy the days...the peepers aren't far off. (had a salamander crawl into the sugar house on Wednesday)

[lostrock4]

Curious how you clean your syrup pan? Tools, chemicals, etc? ThanksWith a garden hose!!! Lol :). if the pan gets buildup on the inside i will take the angle grinder with a metal wire wheel (same as a welder would use). This will take the gunk n carbon off and get you to bare metal. Just got back in with 18 gallons from mondays run(57 taps hard maple trees Hayward, WI)

[Trapper2]

My trees have finally kicked into high gear. Used the RB15 bucket yesterday. Definitely a learning curve, but it's amazing. Cooked off 75 and have about 2 gallons ready to finish. Collected my saptank at the bottom of my 3/16 gravity line, full since yesterday at 12.

I also have the RB 15. New to me this year, yes learning curve but I think I have it dialed in now after running 2000 gallons through it. 3 things I learned, Keep the pickup filter clean coming out of barrel,
don't try using if its colder than 30 as slush build up in the lines and also make sure inlet house is fully inserted into fitting on bottom of bucket or you don't achieve the 100-120 lbs. of pressure. I've been changing my bucket filter every 400 gallons or so.
Have Fun.

[WildRiver]

I thought I'd be done by now but the next ten days look decent, I'm adding 50 more bags today in spots we couldn't get to because of snow. The season hasn't been too bad, no big runs but fairly steady. 35 gallons of syrup so far.

[Jeff E]

I clean my syrup pan almost daily, with water and milk stone remover.
I drain, rinse, then soak for a couple of hours. Drain, keeping the acid wash, rinse, shop vac, wipe down.

If I don't do it daily, especially the second half of the season, I get build up that can scorch.

Basically the same thing at the end of the season.

[Jeff E]

By the way I pulled the pin on Sunday. Our sugar was way down, 1.4 on Sunday. Getting cloudy, so syrup quantity and quality were not worth the effort.

[Jeff E]

How did everyone in NW do this year. A slightly subpar year? We made nice syrup, but I think total is a little below what would be average.
Overall, sugar content was about normal, a lot of niter build up in the pans with each boil.