2014 Season West Virginia Mapler

Installed 306 taps on Jan 9th and 142 on Jan 10th. Boiled off 400 gallons last week 2 separate small boils. Made few changes this year and good chance to work our any bugs. Was going to put in 250 more on north side this past Monday as was off for holiday but didn't work out. Been too cold since middle of last week and sub zero temps this week and not warmup rest of month. Everything ready but 250 taps on north side and just waiting for sap to run. I added 100 taps this year and replaced all of my drop and new Leader seasonal clear spouts. Taps went in about 4 weeks earlier than normal. Haven't been on here for a long time. Will try to get on here from time to time.

Good to see you're still at it Brandon!

Jim

Yeah, welcome back! I always enjoy reading your posts.

Sean

How much snow do you have on the ground Brandon? Seems as though you have gotten some storms that we haven't. I like reading your posts also.

Welcome back Brandon.

Thanks guys for the nice comments. We have about 12 inches now but been seeing quite a few nights and days with sub zero temps and temps below -10 F. Factor in wind chills and hitting close to -40 or more at times. We see cold temps, but not normally this cold. Coldest Jan we have had in a while. Normal tapping time is Feb 7th so we aren't far from there now.

Brandon,
Good to hear from you. I haven't been on much till recently.
Glad your still making syrup and still expanding.
How was your hunting season. Was always impressed on your hunts and the results.
Regards,
Chris

Hunting season wasn't much good for me. I was off first three weeks of November to bow hunt and put in 138 hours in 14 days in 13 different stands and never seen big buck. Seen 10 different bucks and 30+ does but that was it. Haven't seen buck above 125 inches since Nov 14th 2011 and 283 hours in the tree stand. Seen 8 in 180 hours in 2010 and 2011 but none since. That's hunting. Been absolutely Horrible last 2 years. Passed nice 8 and bigger 9 this year and several smaller bucks but that's it. Hopefully you and some of the other guys did better than I have. Strangest rut I have seen almost no sign anywhere in rubs or scrapes.

Welcome back Brandon. I just started coming back here recently too. I haven't even been in the woods to check on my tubing yet. I've been too busy adding on to my sugar house. The new woodshed is done and full of wood and the new RO and canning room is almost done. I should be ready to tap by the middle of next month which is normal for here. Good luck with your sugaring season.

This is my first post. We are in central WV (Lewis Co.) I spent last weekend running 3,000 feet of new tubing down the mountain with around 180 taps. Ordered 2,000 more feet and 300 more spouts. Spent the last 3 years cooking on a 2x2 flat pan over a propane camp grill (8 hours to make a quart). Bought a 2x6 CDL wood-fired arch this year, but have only boiled water so far. All suggestions welcome. Hope everyone has a good season!