So who's tapping this weekend regardless of the weather?

[heus]

I have been thinking about getting my taps in this weekend. There is no sign of a warmup here in NE Ohio, at least not in the 10 day forcast. How many of youput your taps in each year regardless of the weather? How many always wait for the weather to break first?

[smitty76]

Well Heus, We all try to wait to the last minute to tap but we are also to excited to wait. We do not want to tap too early but also do not want to miss the first big run. (That is enough to tear a guy up, or at least one that has the bug bad"ME"). The weather here in southern NY is border line and we are going to tap this weekend no matter what the weather, allthogh the forecast looks good. It is almost like a gut feeling that you get that lets you know its time. Mine is telling me its time. Kind of like the animals of nature. They know.;) :rolleyes: :lol: :o

[Clan Delaney]

I'm pulling my hair out over not already having any taps in. Six of the last seven days were good weather-wise, but I've been worried about another freeze-up. I may have to put some in tonite just to put myself at ease.

[smitty76]

I hear you dude!!!!!! This weather this year is driving me nutssssssssssssssssssss.:o :o :confused: :cry:

[maplehound]

2 replaced knees and 2 feet of snow don't work to good together so I have to wait. Also the last 2 years I havn't tapped till the first of March. I sure don't expect to this year either.

[Toblerone]

I'll be tapping on Saturday... I just can't wait any longer. This will be the first time I have tapped in 14" of snow. This could be interesting.

[smitty76]

We are usally making syrup by the 3rd week of feb, like right now. the weather is messing with us this year.:(

[smitty76]

Tob, we tapped in 24" of snow in 93 and it was interesting for sure. the funniest part is when the snow melts and all of your taps are over your head.

[Toblerone]

Funny about the taps over your head! We have about 30 high-school kids coming Saturday for their required volunteer service hours. I bet I could get about 10 of them to quickly shovel the trail for me!

[wnybassman]

I'm thinking about it. We'll see what the long range looks like during the weekend and I'll decide. Might as well enjoy the ice fishing while I can ;)

[smitty76]

lucky you, There is only 4 of us here that actuly do the bush work(not including my 3 and 5 yr old duaghters that love to help). 30 would be great.

[smitty76]

WNY, were in western ny are you? I am in tioga county.

[Toblerone]

Smitty: There is plenty of other work for them at the farm, I could probably steal 10 of them for 1/2 hour tops. I usually only get a couple for the entire 5-hour workday. They usually have them clean animal pens or clear trails or, as I like to tease, bust up big rocks into smaller rocks! They are a good bunch of kids, and we are the most popular "volunteer opportunity" at the high school.

[wnybassman]

WNY, were in western ny are you? I am in tioga county.

I am over in NE Wyoming County

[smitty76]

Thats kooool Tob, I would keep that going as long as I could, not to mention that you are the "most popular". That is a bug transmiting oppertunity if I have ever seen one. You may make them all sick.:lol: :lol: :D

[dnap63]

Looks like we will be getting started this weekend, I feel like I am way behind before I even get started.

[Paddymountain]

As of today I have around 95 taps in and will finish up on Saturday for sure.
I think last year we started around the same time. It might be slow for awhile, but
I'd rather be a little early and catch a good run. This year is showing no signs of a warmup, but maybe the weather will soon change.

[mapleack]

I'm taking the next two days off so I'll have four days straight to tap, wash tanks, etc ( a long list! ) Hopefully we'll have about 850 tapped by Sunday, the 50 or 60 buckets will have to wait until next weekend.

[Dave Y]

I am going to try to get some taps in this weekend. Not sure what I will get done.

[Wanabe1972]

I'm up in the air too, the weather seems like it should break soon but the weatherman isnt giving any good news. In 2005 we had a nice warm spell and I tapped on the 16th of Feb half filled my tanks in a day then a wind storm came through. Temp dropped 30 degrees in 4 hours and then the power went out for 5 days. Instead of collecting my sap I tried to keep the house warm in 25 degree days and 10 degree nights. Has anyone ever tried chipping a 300 gallon block on ice out of their tank. Them the 22nd it warmed up again and my sap overflowed the tank onto the ground. I think I'm not going to repeat this mistake that ruined my season that year. I only have 300 taps that i can tap in less than a day so I'm unhappily waiting.:(

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I was planning on tapping this weekend but way too much snow to worry about it at this point. No warmup to speak of in sight for next 10 days so not sure what is going to happen. We are just over 4 weeks from normal end of season, so at this point it is cray. I just about need a dozer to plow out the roads.

[Smith's Maple]

If I can get the air tubbing up out of the snow. I might try to start tapping the begining of next week. We had some freezing rain last night and there is a good crust on top. Might be Easter until we make syrup.:-|

[sapman]

I would probably tap, as we had hi 30s and west wind today. But I'm still far from ready. Almost done with drops, then gotta do multi-fittings and about 30 ladders!

Tim

[KenWP]

The stupid weather here makes no sense. The forecast says cold but the thermometer says it's warm. I figure I can tap the first week of march again and get a little bit untill April and then get a couple big dumps and be finished. maybe.

[wnybassman]

I probably won't tap this weekend now. The long range changed and they are showing nothing over 34º in the next 8 days. Of course that will be different tomorrow :lol:

[smitty76]

I have always had good runs even in 34 deg weather. I will still tap this weekend. "leave no maple behind" that is a quote from a wise mapler. I promise, cross my heart to leave none behind.:D :D :D :D

[PARKER MAPLE]

I finished tapping on all my tubing today, it was running good for early season i thought. might be sweeten the pans on sat am. keeping my fingures crossed

[smitty76]

We are hoping you do rookie. Can't wait to start myself.:evil: :lol: ;) :mrgreen:

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

I have always had good runs even in 34 deg weather. I will still tap this weekend. "leave no maple behind" that is a quote from a wise mapler. I promise, cross my heart to leave none behind.:D :D :D :D

I agree with this but one thing to point out is that it won't run much at 34 degrees in the early season where it might run quite a bit later in the season because it takes a while just to get the trees and everything thawed out in the early season. Not always the case but I don't get excited about 34 degree days in the early season because it may be 1 pm before it gets there and by 3 it is already getting cold again.

[wnybassman]

I agree with this but one thing to point out is that it won't run much at 34 degrees in the early season where it might run quite a bit later in the season because it takes a while just to get the trees and everything thawed out in the early season. Not always the case but I don't get excited about 34 degree days in the early season because it may be 1 pm before it gets there and by 3 it is already getting cold again.

That, and the fact that the following 4 days beyond that won't break 30.

[smitty76]

I believe that every bush is a little different. I have had several before I found this awesome one. I do not undersatnd it, but this bush will run at 34 degs, even in the early season. I hope that everyone makes the best of their situation.

Smitty76

[concord maple]

No days above freezing through next weekend here in western NY. Looked at the long range (15 days) until the second weekend in March and two days in mid 30's that's it but that can't get 24 hours right.

[heus]

I put in a test tap this past weekend in NE Ohio. Was dripping some today even though the temp was only around 33 or so. Definitely not a "run" though.

[rh94]

started tapping wed 2-17 finished tonite 2-18 already had over 200gal of sap, ran ok today. forecast looks good for a short run each day till mon 2-22

700 taps on gravity
my wife is going to kill me

[Sugarmaker]

We will keep getting ready this weekend. Will wait and try to catch the next warm spell. We might be making good syrup in mid April this year? Several folks near Conneaut never tap till mid March anyway. We do have to get some syrup for the Taste and Tour March 20 and 21 if possible!. That would be a shame if it stayed cold till then:( But we don't have much control. I would like to get to some other folks to watch them boil. I get a kick out of that and always learn a thing or two.

Regards,
Chris

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Think i'm going to tap Sat...forcast for upper 30's all week...plus trees are out in open/sunny area.

[Ridgeland Farm]

ran one bush yesterday. at about 8pm the virticle double releaser was letting go every 1min 41sec. heres a couple clips. sorry its so hard to see. shot with my cell phone in the dark with a flashlight!


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/jgguppyboy2/th_0218001946.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v221/jgguppyboy2/?action=view&current=0218001946.flv)


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/jgguppyboy2/th_0218001954.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v221/jgguppyboy2/?action=view&current=0218001954.flv)

[TF Maple]

My son and I are itching to start just like everyone else, but like every where else, the weather here in Wisconsin is questionable for tapping.
35 degrees today but forecast is for slowly dropping temps through Tuesday next week. So if the weather forecast is correct we are holding off.
Long range forecast has 40 degrees for the 26th, so maybe that weekend.
We really didn't expect to tap before March.

[gator330]

We're right on the edge three days of 32-34 with wind just not right yet. Looks as if some cold is comeing in. Think I'm going to hold off yet. May set the tanks today and bust out some roads but that is it.

[Brian Ryther]

Maple Newbie,
The sounds of sugar season were great!
It looks like you have a line with sags in it. You can see in the second video clip one of the lines is chugging into the releaser. The sap should be coming in smooth. This is where dry lines help a lot, even if it is only 100' long it will smooth out sap flow and will transfer vac around your sag. I have also found that the valve at the releaser causes tirbulance that hinders vac transfer.

[Dill]

The forecast is looking even better this morning. Almost 40 everyday and only getting down into the high 20s. Going to hang the home buckets at lunch time.

[Ridgeland Farm]

yeah im sure there is a sag somewhere! That is actually a setup up the road for a producer I am working with this year. I wasnt able to get my evap this year so I am selling my sap to him and working at his place this year! including my taps this year he will be around 6000 taps. that is just on of 5 setups. and it does have a dry line! its kinda just a test run. never tapped this yearly but he figured he would give it a shot. Its just nice to hear that vacuum!!!

[dano2840]

I AM! still have some plumbing to do but let it run on the ground for the first day so any crap in the lines gets flushed out, cant wait to hook up the releaser and watch that run for the first time, still have some stuff to do like get the gathering tank thawed,cleaned, bring it home and get it tied down to the hay trailer, run the pump line to the little bush take the wire brush to 2 tanks to clean up some rust around the drains, move tank in the sugar house, tighten some laterals, a bunch of little stuff, put in a call to eastman long last night and bought my self a gas tapper for 100 bucks, picking it up tonight because hes in the woods tapping right now. he started monday, but hes got 9000

[Revi]

We have had a few buckets up since last weekend and the sap is running now. We are going to tap the tubing, let it run to clean the lines out and then we're starting the season. The long range is calling for some nice weather into the middle of next week.

We are cleaning up the sugarhouse and getting ready for tomorrow.

[Ridgeland Farm]

heres a better clip from today. still running! Not quite as good as yesterday


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/jgguppyboy2/th_P2190529.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v221/jgguppyboy2/?action=view&current=P2190529.flv)

[TRAILGUY]

90 gal sap. sweeten pan tomorow