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Thread: Another craptacular end to a season

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Ashford, CT
    Posts
    918

    Default Another craptacular end to a season

    Just to add to the "craptactular" end to seasons, I had one that I've never seen before. I was finishing up boiling what I collected the end of last week this past weekend and still had about 100 gallons or so I wanted to push into the evaporator before I started clean-up on Sunday. I did my usual opening valves and loading the firebox and blasting it with a torch to get the fire rolling when all of a sudden I noticed something floating in one of the syrup pan sections - it was a MOUSE! I have been boiling for 25+ years and I've had that happened.

    Thankfully I could tell that it landed in there over night but my plan for the day was ruined. All I could do was remove him (my son buried him) and flush my pans and start cleaning up for the season. I lost all the sweet I had in the pans and the syrup I would have made from the 100 gallons but there was nothing I could do.

    Has anyone else ever had that happen?

    Outside of the crazy start and missing the early runs in January, I had a pretty normal season. I started with late season weather when I tapped around my normal mid-February range and then went back to mid-winter weather and had several good runs, including a surprise run last week. My season ended just about when it normally ends.
    About 300 taps
    2'x6' air tight arch
    Semi complete 12'x24' sugarhouse in Somers, CT
    My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapturedNature
    My eBook: Making Maple Syrup in your Backyard

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Mar 2016
    Location
    chester, ma
    Posts
    905

    Default

    So I guess that joke about the CT sugarman is right! LOL

    Seriously - sorry about the crappy end to your season. That's gotta sting.

    Cheers,

    Gabe
    2016: Homemade arch from old wood stove; 2 steam tray pans; 6 taps; 1.1 gal
    2017: Same setup. 15 taps; 4.5 gal
    2018: Same setup. Limited time. 12 taps and short season; 2.2 gal
    2019: Very limited time. 7 taps and a short season; 1.8 gals
    2020: New Mason 2x3 XL halfway through season; 9 taps 2 gals
    2021: Same 2x3, 18 taps, 4.5 gals
    2022: 23 taps, 5.9 gals
    2023: 23 taps. Added AUF, 13.2 gals
    2024: 17 taps
    All on buckets

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Red Bay Ontario
    Posts
    191

    Default

    Ouch that sucks for sure. That's why I always pull my fire or let it die right down and cover my pans at night. Leave enough room for the steam to come out. It sounds like the rest of your season was as normal.
    225 taps 180 on vac 45 on natural gravity lines.
    2x6 drop flue with auto draw.
    Home built 3 x400gpd ro
    2017 kubota M7060hdcc12
    2019 can am defender


    2017- first year 80 taps 22x36 home made arch and pan.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Kent Ct. USA
    Posts
    369

    Default

    I had a drown one in a sap bucket on a tree this year, first time for that - Much less loss & easier clean up then yours Dave - Sad when you have to dump product. By the way, 'craptacular' that word in Websters?

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Ashford, CT
    Posts
    918

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Mike Van View Post
    I had a drown one in a sap bucket on a tree this year, first time for that - Much less loss & easier clean up then yours Dave - Sad when you have to dump product. By the way, 'craptacular' that word in Websters?
    lol...no, I don't believe so. I just borrowed the word that another poster used to describe the end of his season.
    About 300 taps
    2'x6' air tight arch
    Semi complete 12'x24' sugarhouse in Somers, CT
    My YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/CapturedNature
    My eBook: Making Maple Syrup in your Backyard

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2017
    Location
    Danbury, Connecticut
    Posts
    331

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DaveB View Post
    lol...no, I don't believe so. I just borrowed the word that another poster used to describe the end of his season.
    i'm going to suggest it to Mirriam Webster's this year. you can thank me later.
    2016 - 36 Taps - File Cabinet Arch + Food Pans
    2017 - 2.5'x10' drop flues - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 122 Taps
    2018 - 16x20 Sugar Shack - 3/16 Natural Vacuum - 235 Taps

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Kent Ct. USA
    Posts
    369

    Default

    You could be famous Matt -

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