Eastern Ontario 2022

[Big_Eddy]

I chose not to open up my trails a couple of weeks back, when we had the warm spell. In hindsight, it might have been an error in judgement. We now have hard crunchy snow too soft to drive the tractor and sap trailer over, but too deep / hard to drive through or blow away. I haven't tried the Gator yet, but I expect it will be similar. Eventually it will soften and I'll get it out of there, but there could be a lot more "carrying" involved during tapping and collecting until I do. We are thinking we will tap this weekend, as long as the forecast holds.

[Big_Eddy]

Clearing the trails was not much trouble.

Put our first 100+ taps in today. Nice and easy working in the woods. Hard pack with about 2” soft snow on top. No snowshoes, no waist deep snow, no wet everything.
Fresh holes were wet enough for the tap installer to find the newly drilled hole by looking for the damp bark, but not really dripping once the taps were in.
We’ll put the rest in tomorrow

[ir3333]

You thinkin' you'll be boiling this week Eddy?
I'm in Stirling and was looking 17th or later but the weather does show temps. above 0 daily starting Sunday

[Big_Eddy]

All next week looks good. I expect we should have enough sap to start boiling early in the week, and good runs each day at least until Friday. Given what I saw today, the deep freeze is already out of the trees.
Forecast cools off again a week out, but I don’t put much faith in the temperature forecasts beyond about 5 days.
We will be putting the rest of our taps in tomorrow and then get the tanks and evaporator ready.

[Big_Eddy]

Forecast cools off again a week out, but I don’t put much faith in the temperature forecasts beyond about 5 days. .

The forecast was updated overnight. I now see good sap temperatures for 12 of the next 14 days. Let it begin!

[ir3333]

Wow..talk about changing the forecast! Looks like i may be tapping this week!

[MikeC82]

70 pails up near Johnstown. 50 more today. That will probably be it this year. Lots of snow in the bush. Could be difficult with the ATV/Trailer if this coming rain doesnt knock it down too much.

[Big_Eddy]

All in. 150 or so

[Galena]

Well.. I'm ashamed to say I don't have the itch at all to get going.. This on again off again snowmobiling weather has me wanting another month before tapping....

Yah you sledheads are a nutty bunch, would rather be rippin around on sleds instead of tappin trees, lol ;-)

Just saw the forecast for the coming week, looks awesome for my area. However though it will surely be a better season than last year, I am taking my biggest tree off the line for this season. #2 had surgery in early January, a few limbs had to come down. I feel it would be too stressful to tap it. However I think I am going to put my biggest bush maple on 2 spiles, so Surprise can pick up some slack.

[limestone]

We finished taping here today as well. Looks like it’s “game on” after tomorrow. Our rule of thumb here in South Frontenac is the season usually start one week either side on March 1st. So this year should prove that right.
I’ve had maple fever for a month now so bring it on

Sugaring since 1981
215 taps on gravity 5/16 and 3/16 tubing
2x6 Henway wood fired arch
Phaneuf /Evaporateurs PJ raised flue pans
Battersea Ontario