Tapping Pennsylvania 2019

[Paddymountain]

Well, It looks like it's my turn to start the Pa tapping thread!
I am tapped!! Ha Ha! I put a bucket out yesterday to see what's going on.
No, It looks like next week will be the week. As long as they don't change the forecast, that is.
I'm about as ready as I can be in the woods. Last week I set a cage tank before it snowed, and today
I ran some 3/16 tubing through a culvert under a road to get the drop I needed.
Tap count this year, about the same, around 375. Plus the neighbor bringing from 40 buckets.
Looking for a great season! Remember to have fun everyone!
If it turns in to work, you should probably look elsewhere for a hobby!!!!!!

[minehart gap]

I'm with you Paddymountain. I'm about crawling out of my skin, this waiting is working on me. I doubled my tap count this year and added an RO and other bells and whistles.

[a.clarke]

Keeping my eye on the forecast, but it is looking like I will be tapping on Sunday 2/3! Everything is all set and ready to go. Can't wait to test out the new Smoky Lake 2x4 divided pan!

[Plutoman15]

I will put most of my taps in Saturday morning (around 18). Starting next Thursday it looks good for several weeks. Might get a short run this Saturday and Sunday. Let the drips begin!!!

[Chief103]

I only got about 18 gallons from the 20 trees I have tapped here in the flat land. Kinda hoping the next few days run good so I can boil the weekend. First boil is always fun, the neighbors always stop by for the sweet smell and a coffee.

[Paddymountain]

Sap is not flowing very well in Union County. I have 150 taps on 5/16 gravity that has only brought in about 40 gallons as of this morning.
100 taps on 3/16 starting to run; but leaks everywhere! after 3 times fixing leaks, I finally think
I have them under control. All the 3/16 is on marginal slope, so not getting big time vacuum, but better than 5/16 and no vac.
90 some trees at the house on vacuum tapped yesterday, only 10 inches vac after fixing a dozen leaks.
Probably won't boil until Friday, but certainly have a lot of the woods work ready for when we
get thawed out a little more.

[Skeller001]

I put taps in 14 trees this afternoon. A few of them started to drip just a tiny bit. It was right at the 32-33 degree line. The majority of the trees were in the 12-15" range but there were 4-5 that were larger.

After this week and the road is cut in I may have a few more that are big enough to tap. I didn't tap any that may get taken down this week. I hate seeing them come down but there isn't a choice.

Good luck everyone!

[Plutoman15]

Taps are in. Sap was flowing today. Tomorrow should be better.

Sugar was 1.75% on woods Norways.

[Paddymountain]

Skeller001: I would think that you need a good freeze to reset your trees. Here in Central Pa we just started thawing out, even though
we have been well above freezing every day since Sunday. Looks like a little colder on Saturday.
We have finally got everything up and running half decent. Haven't boiled yet but tomorrow we will.
Got the vacuum at the house up to 22" and hooked up to the tank around 4:00 this afternoon. 3/16 is sorted out and running.
150 Taps on 5/16 only had about 40 gallon in the tank yesterday, but until tomorrow should have enough to boil.
I really thought I would have boiled on Tuesday or Wednesday the way it warmed up, but surely can only do what nature allows.

[Sugarmaker]

Skeller,
Very interesting but not very surprising on how the sap production dropped off with continued warming the last few days. You should have good sap flow after the next freeze.
I worked this late afternoon in the rain getting the last of the tubing and gathering systems in place while the weather was favorable. Looking at tapping next week unless its too cold.
Regards,
Chris