North east ohio 2018

[heus]

Starting to pick up here in the past hour. Karl it seems like you guys have been 4-5 degrees warmer than us all season.

[johnallin]

Wow John I must just have a cold woods this year. My cousin across the road has had the same problem. 50 yesterday but walk into the woods and it feels like its in the 20s.

Hues, Maybe it's the elevation? I'm located pretty close to the top of Little Mountain, southern most part of Lake County, the elevation here is 900' +/-. We're pretty open over here, and get a fair amount of sun - when it shines. Have a good friend in Perry with a colder woods than I, so that's a distinct possibility. My 3/16" tube tank had 100 gallons in it tonight; all since Sunday late afternoon and was running pretty strong at 7:30 pm. 114 taps on that tank, so not too bad. Many of the bags were full when I collected last night, and were at 1/2 to full when I checked this evening, that's another 100-130 gallons. Problem is I only have a 165 gal CDL head tank in the sugar house, so not enough storage until I boil off what's in there now.
I'm a very small operation in comparison to most of you, 400+ gallons sap in three days is tons for me, guessing some of you burn through that in a few hours. This is my 10th year and it keeps getting better.
Pics of bags taken Monday night and under full boil on Sunday. Note...there used to be 4 piles of wood 8' high under roof in front of the sugar house...not anymore. Ugh

bags 3-26.jpgbags 3-26-2.jpgboil 3-25.jpg

[heus]

John I always admired your sugar house.

[CrossBroMaple]

haven't had much sap here on the lake in Madison. only about 100 gallons in the last couple days. thought the rain might bring me some sap but I'm still waiting to see it.

[johnallin]

Matt, how has this year been for you, so far? I'm approaching my 2013 numbers -record year for me.

[WoodButcher]

More cold woods here in Munson. At about .18g finished per tap... but heck it's a hobby I don't care. And it tastes great this year!

[CrossBroMaple]

Another down year for me. Currently at .15 gallon of finished syrup per tap, have some sap to boil tonight .

[johnallin]

For whatever reason, my trees are definitely running harder, and more often this year. Maybe the snow pack, the woods are sloppy as can be. I also added another 40 or so taps this year, most on the 3/16 tube...which would explain the increase for me. Where 130 gal per day used to be a big haul; this year its been more like 150-200 per day, some even more than that. Could double what I have, but just don't have the time to collect and boil it all - maybe when I quit being stubborn and retirement becomes a reality.

Like they say in the projects...one man's ceiling is another man's floor....compared to most of you; when it comes to tap count, my ceiling is your floor. (smile).
Just wish I'd added another wood pile to go with the new taps.

[WoodButcher]

John whats your finished gallon per tap rate right now? most people not on vacuum seem to be around .15-.25 per tap.

[karl evans]

Starting to pick up here in the past hour. Karl it seems like you guys have been 4-5 degrees warmer than us all season.

could be this year. I know historically,my township ( colebrook) is usually a cold spot in Northeast Ohio. I have been amazed how well & how many times sap had ran good at 33-35 degrees. A real plus here is still not a sign of any off flavor yet in syrup. I should come close to a normal season production wise. Maybe even better IF it keeps running. With holes tapped early January, they could shut down any day now.