It's either this weekend or next for me...

[Leinie]

Well the sap in running in Aitkin!!! Our group has collected well over 300 gallons today and will cooking 24/7. They are scrambling to find storage for the sap and are collecting both morning and evening. Which makes it difficult to find time for canning. Every year we add just a few more taps......I think next year we will have to look hard at moving from our 70 gallon flat pan outdoor cooking to an evaporator and perhaps a sugar shack!

Nice problem to have ! Glad things are finally running for you up there.

[Sugar Bush INC]

I hope all is well with your pup. It seems like we were due for this heavy sap run. I was able to meet with Leo last week at the Aitkin Beanery and talk shop. It would be fun to get other Aitkin county maple syrup collectors together.

[Gissert]

What an interesting season - during the hard freeze earlier this week - I could see the trees had run some in the afternoons. Yesterday, I collected 200 gallons (130 taps) with a lot of ice I could not get out of my buckets. Today, about 24 hrs later, another 210. Boiling like mad on out 2 x 4 oil tank evap. We will collect tomorrow and then finish what we got. Got a shot at 30 gallons this year.

[chad]

interesting season to say the least Friday went out and gathered 65 gallons off of 50 taps went out Saturday evening to check and figured I would be pulling taps got out there and holy buckets did I have sap over 75 gallons so I figured might as well cook got 2 gallons finished and bottled and still have some sweet and almost syrup out in the shack hopefully I can get out there after the Easter dinner in the twin cities later today

[Leo]

Happy Easter. We finally had a good run this weekend, collected 234 gallons Friday and 120 on Saturday. Not spectacular, but best this year. So far I have collected about 650 gallons from 200 taps; pretty poor. We got down to 30 last night so I am hopeful for another small run today.
Leo

[warners point]

We ended up collecting 850 gallons Friday and Saturday. I'll finish boiling today and start putting things away tomorrow. Even though I was hoping for more syrup this year, this last couple of days has satisfied my desire to keep going.

[lastwoodsman]

We picked up 500 gallons Friday. RO,ed Friday evening 259 gallons and the other 250 Sat morning. Sap was 3.5% on 250 gallons and 2.8 on the other 250. After Ro,ing we were at 6% Boiled it off yesterday. Done for the season now.

[RileySugarbush]

The peepers have been peeping for over a week and we have hit the 70s last week.
I was sure this weeks sap would be buddy but we boiled all day yesterday and made over thirteen gallons of dark amber. Strong but good flavor and no off taste. Almost out of wood and definitely out of energy Done for the season with over 34 gallons of good syrup.

[buck3m]

Glad to hear so many people had fun during a challenging season.

[SZimm]

From what I have been reading this season was challenging for most. Being my first season I have nothing to compare to.
I began tapping on 1 March and ran a total of 27 taps. Total for the season I got about 100 gallons of sap - which boiled to about 2.5 gallons of syrup. My goal was 1 gallon so I am happy. My daughter made this venture her science project - so I have plenty of data to reference next year.

Here are my lessons learned:
1) Be patient.
2) Have a better boiling / evaporating system. Not knowing what to expect I used propane and a 60 qt pot for boiling...
3) Learn how to complete the final filtering...which really means "buy the right filter"
4) Convince the Mrs. to buy me a four wheeler - or something to haul buckets around. Walking and carrying by hand sucked!
and 5) know your friends. Now that my season is over, and I have 24 pints - suddenly everyone “that supported me with love and kind words” thinks I can spare a jar or two.

Thanks to everyone that offered advice throghout the season! looking forward to next year!!