"Sap Suckers Sugar Shack 2011"

[Backyard Sapper66]

Collected about 15 gallons today. Weird thing is that a couple of the trees with 2 taps had yellowish sap in one bucket and crystal clear in the other. I dumped out the yellow sap which gave be about 12 gallons of clear sap. Supposed to be in the 20's tonight and 40's tomorrow and a repeat for a couple more days if the weatherman is right. Hoping to collect at least another 50 gallons of sap before I call it quits for the season. Been a good one for me so far, made over 5 gallons of syrup with the grade being mostly dark. Already have the thoughts running thru my head for next year. I just hope I get started earlier next year than I did this year.
Good luck to all who are still going for it!!!
Doug

[Backyard Sapper66]

Had a good freeze last night, down to about 26 degrees. Today I collected 28 gallons of sap which I thought was pretty good considering the snow showers and overcast conditions. I guess it got to the low 40's today. Glad to have collected as much as I did. Have 75 gallons in storage waiting to boil on Saturday. Hoping to get another 25 or so tomorrow and maybe even on Friday. Looks like after Friday it will be the end. Forecasting 55-60 during the day and low 40's at night.
Good luck to everybody who is still hanging on!!
Doug

[red maples]

still going huh!!! We got a brief freeze more like a frost. Finished finishing and bottle syrup today. Afew things to do in the AM then to the woods to pull taps. Suppose to get warm this weekend. So I am sure the peepers will start very soon I am guessing this weekend, if not tomorrow.

[Backyard Sapper66]

Ya Brad I'm still at it. Sap was crystal clear today, smelled and tasted good. Was still dripping when I emptied the buckets. We are just north enough of you that the season might last a bit longer. It has been an awesome season for me, never expected I would make 5+ gallons of syrup!!! Being a small tater's operation, 5 gallons is a lot. I almost came down for a visit last week, a buddy of mine went down to Kingston to get a motorcycle. We were going to go down on Wednesday but he upped it by a day and went on Tuesday. Couldn't get out of work early enough to go down with him. I will have to swing by next year and check out your operation. Glad you had a good year!!
Doug

[Backyard Sapper66]

Good run today on my little gravity system. Collected about 45 gallons and put it in storage. Have 120 gallons to boil off. Guess I will have to start boiling some tonight so it doesn't take me all weekend to do it. Supposed to go below freezing again tonight so hopefully another round of collecting tomorrow. Good luck to all you crazy sappers out there still boiling away!!!
Doug

[Backyard Sapper66]

Well the marathon boil has started as of 7:15pm!! Plan on boiling as long as I can stay awake. Have 125 gallons in the storage tank to boil off before it goes bad. Lucky to have lasted as long as I have. Might freeze again tonight so maybe there will be a run tomorrow. Better get the coffee pot going with high test and a big ole' dose of maple syrup to sweeten it up. Plenty of wood (free, dry pallets both hard and softwood to cut up and use) and plenty of sap to go the distance. At 5 GPH average boiling rate its going to take me 25 hours to boil off the whole 125 gallons. Not quite the "Jerry Lewis" marathon but hey it works for me!!!
Good luck to all that are still harvesting the nectar of the sweet godess.
Doug

[Bill'sSugarShack]

Good luck on the long boil......

[Backyard Sapper66]

The 12 hour threshold has come and gone, boiled off 60 gallons so far. Had to cat nap inbetween filling the preheater and re-filling the arch. Had the rate up to 6.5 GPH but just couldn't keep the eyes open. Froze last nite pretty good so it looks like today will be another collection day and tomorrow I will be pulling taps. It is wonderful how nice and quiet it is at 3:00am, just the boiling of the evap and the birds singing their songs. Lucky to have had this experience, couldn't imagine living cooped up in the big city, YUCK!!!
Bill, thanks for the well wishes, I'm sure it is helping!!!
Good luck to everybody that is still able to make steam!!!
Doug

[Backyard Sapper66]

Boiled 126 gallons in 24 hours. Now this is small potatoes compared to the big boys toys but I am happy with the rig I made this year. Hoping to finish off at over 7 gallons of syrup for the season. First ever year making over 1-3/4 gallons. Ended up with a total of 57 taps out this year. First ever year using tubing (thank you J Walker for your help with the tubing) and it worked really well. Didn't have a lot of lines out but used the tubing and taps and the free 5 gallon pails I got from Shaw's, Hannaford and Market Basket to tap the trees. I had at least 4 trees that religiously filled the 1-1/2 gallon alum buckets so I pulled the spile and put a spout and tubing setup into a 5 gallon pail and it worked kicking!! I guess I am rambling, sorry....
24 hours straight will do that to you!!!
Have a good night all.
Doug

[RipTyd]

Doug, Sounds like you may have a long day tomorrow at work. Thanks again for those pallets you gave me they really are like putting gas into the firebox, got her just a hoppin of the arch!!! Took in all my buckets and got 60 gallons left to enjoy boiling. I bet that 24 hour batch is the best tasting one you made so far!!! Crazy Sap Sucker!!!! Glad to hear you had such a good season!!!