My plan for the day was to snowshoe the lines to further compact the trail before the next snowfall and ice fish in the afternoon.
After seeing the forecast change, I started thinking about tapping the final 70+ taps. I had not made up my mind, but I started to get my two collection barrels and short lines to go to from the main lines to the barrels The whole time I kept saying to myself Stop, stop, but I didn’t.
I still had not made up my mind as I set up the barrels and connected the lines to the barrels. I shovelled snow around the barrels to help keep them in place in case of strong winds.
It was beautiful out. It felt very Spring like, so I stopped saying stop and started tapping. It did not take long. The trails I had compacted, supported my weight. If you stepped off the trails you went into anywhere from knee to crotch deep of snow.
It did not take long to do the 70+ taps. I had no bad feeling in my gut and I am happy with my decision.
My rationale for tapping was, it was now March and that falls within my tapping parameters, there are a number of flow days coming and at the worst, I have the capacity to store the sap, and I just do not believe the second week of the two week forecast. Also it will give me an opportunity to check out my transfer pump, wiring and hose setup prior to the really big flows.
When I tapped, no sap came out of the holes and nothing was running down the lines. When I got back home, 2 minutes away, I checked my existing lines and they were just beginning to drip. I had a quick breakfast and got ready for ice fishing. I checked my existing lines and they were barely starting to flow. I swung around to check out the newly tapped lines and as I arrived they started to flow. I really think they will be big producers.
Whether I decide to do my first boil or not in a few days, I will make that decision then.
I feel excited and if my decision to tap was wrong, no one dies.
Now for a flag to pop on the tip up, as I type this in the ice hut. I will check on the lines again later today.
Last edited by Swingpure; 03-01-2023 at 01:43 PM.
2022 - 5 pan block arch - 109 taps, 73 on 3/16 lines, 36 on drops into 5 gallon pails.
930 gallons boiled, 109 L (28.8 gals) of delicious syrup made.
DYI Vacuum Filter
2023 - 170 taps, mostly on lines, 1153 gallons boiled, 130 L (34.34 gals) of delicious syrup made, on a 2x4 divided pan and base stack, 8” pipe, on a block arch that boiled at a rate of 13 gallons per hour.