7 inches of snow so far today ....forecast is cool for all of next week . so far In total I've collected about 80 gals on 38 taps. is it getting to late ?
7 inches of snow so far today ....forecast is cool for all of next week . so far In total I've collected about 80 gals on 38 taps. is it getting to late ?
hobby sapper . usually just enough for family and a few friends.
2x4 flat pan on a home made oil tank boiler fired with sweat and lots of of wood.
So far I've only gotten 22 gallons on 38 taps, most of it from that one warm day we had earlier in the week. Only a couple inches of new snow at the base of the Keweenaw, still 1-2 feet out in the woods. Nice and crusty makes shooting squirrels easier. Now if only I could take advantage of the spring crust to collect sap with...
All my life I wanted to make my own syrup. Now I'm livin' the dream!
Back in the early 70's when I started in L'Anse we always planned to start on March 10th, don't think it has changed at all. March 10th is about the historical date that the average temps go above freezing. Looking at my records this late season has happened before. The problem is the longer this cold lasts the higher chance when it does change it could get warm and stay warm.
Maybe spring has been canceled and some morning we will wake up and it will be summer.
Last edited by Mark; 04-01-2018 at 12:02 PM.
Got about 100 taps in for a week and got 75 gallons. Just about enough for the first boil. Doesn't look good for the next 5 days. When it does break we'll be real busy
2006 - 12 taps on open fire
2011 - 50 taps new 2 x 4 flat pan + warmer
2012 - 65 taps new 16 x 16 sugar shack
2013- 75 taps and no more, well maybe 85 now
2016-97 taps
1 Lab and my wife's Springer
well I boiled my 80 gals of sap today . 4% sugar content. made 3 gals of nice med light syrup . pretty stoked about that.
It will be another week before we get anything close to a sap run . time will tell.
hobby sapper . usually just enough for family and a few friends.
2x4 flat pan on a home made oil tank boiler fired with sweat and lots of of wood.
Finished up boiling my 64 gallons down to 1.6 gallons of the light stuff on Saturday. Have 26 taps in so far. Probably will add 10-20 more this weekend.
Started tapping 3/26, 13 more today - 75 total. 1st boil 115 gal., 66 into the 2nd
Oil tank evaporator w/fire brick and grate, 8 ft. stack
2 x 4 ss pan w/warmer
2011 90 taps
2012 65 taps
2013 76 taps w/milk jugs
2014 41 taps w/milk jugs
2017 67 taps w/various jugs
2018 75 taps wjugs
2023 39 taps wjugs
Polaris Ranger w/tracks
Started tapping 3/26, 13 more today - 75 total. 1st boil 115 gal., 66 into the 2nd
Oil tank evaporator w/fire brick and grate, 8 ft. stack
2 x 4 ss pan w/warmer
2011 90 taps
2012 65 taps
2013 76 taps w/milk jugs
2014 41 taps w/milk jugs
2017 67 taps w/various jugs
2018 75 taps wjugs
2023 39 taps wjugs
Polaris Ranger w/tracks
Time for my first boil of the year. 190 gallons to start with. I am usually done by now.
2006 - 12 taps on open fire
2011 - 50 taps new 2 x 4 flat pan + warmer
2012 - 65 taps new 16 x 16 sugar shack
2013- 75 taps and no more, well maybe 85 now
2016-97 taps
1 Lab and my wife's Springer