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Thread: U.P. Tapping 2020

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Northern Marquette County
    Posts
    7

    Default U.P. Tapping 2020

    Hey gang,
    Where is everyone at with their plans? I’ve never tapped this early but I’m going to do my first three dozen today with highs scheduled near fifty over the weekend coming up.

    Good luck!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2013
    Location
    Marquette MI
    Posts
    45

    Default

    I think we are going to tap this weekend as well. Looks good in the two week

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Chassell, MI
    Posts
    40

    Default

    I tapped earlier this week in anticipation of the great weekend and future outlook.
    All my life I wanted to make my own syrup. Now I'm livin' the dream!

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2019
    Location
    Foster City MI
    Posts
    13

    Default

    First boil of 2020 for us was quite the show. First set back we had a cold spell that froze all our buckets solid or near solid. After collecting 4 barrels of block sap were able to get enough to thaw to fill out pans. Then the plan was to circulate the sap through the pre-heater and thaw the rest. Our RO would just get by passed and we'll just run the transfer pump to circulate. Discovered we had a fitting failed, quickly changed it and then ran into the issue of trying to pump slush which turned out didn't agree with our pump. Trying our best to improvise on the fly with hot pans and struggling to get liquid sap to the pans we ended up using a 18v transfer pump to get by. In the end there was still a few Chuck's of ice that had to hit the pans to save from scorching. We pulled as much liquid we could out of the ice with a large amount of the sap remaining ice we tested the sugar and we're getting 6-8 brix. This was probably or most difficult boil since we started. Everything was fighting us but we still made over 3 gallons of syrup.
    45° 51' 48.0" N
    2013 - First 48 taps outdoor boil
    2014 - 74 taps covered boil
    2015 - 98 taps Sap Magic 2
    2016 - 0 taps :-(
    2017 - 100 taps
    2018 - 145 taps Sugar Shack and RO
    2019 - 170 taps 30gals made

    >>Android Sapulator App<<

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Chassell, MI
    Posts
    40

    Default

    Great looking weather coming up for a lengthy sap run here in the Copper Country! Just in time for the statewide stay at home order. Looking forward to maintaining social distance by sitting in the sugar shack all day a few times in the next couple weeks. Good luck fellow yoopers!
    All my life I wanted to make my own syrup. Now I'm livin' the dream!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    Wisconsin
    Posts
    16

    Default

    First year here and I'm not sure when I should be calling it quits? I pulled my buckets today since im sick of that nonsense. But 10 day forecast looks good here in iron county. Any suggestions from you experienced guys?
    2020 first season ever, wife to be said she wanted to give out maple syrup @ upcoming wedding. I get carried away easy.
    100 taps on 3/16. 30 buckets. 12x20 sugar shack. 3x4 flat pan on barrel arch. Rb 20 kit RO. Tapping in iron county Michigan.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Mar 2011
    Location
    UP MI
    Posts
    216

    Default U.P. Tapping 2020

    Typically my best runs are around the 10th-15th, but I am a bit north of Iron County.
    Last edited by regor0; 04-06-2020 at 10:30 AM.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    Chassell, MI
    Posts
    40

    Default

    Based on the last five years I've boiled, I've called it quits somewhere in the early- to mid-April range. Depends on conditions of course. If the sap is still flowin' I'm game to keep boilin'. Still have snow up in the Copper Country which means spring hasn't gotten here quite yet!
    All my life I wanted to make my own syrup. Now I'm livin' the dream!

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