With the -21 at my place this morning it's not happening for me this weekend. I am thinking next weekend depending on the long range. The warm day yesterday and forecasted for the weekend made it tempting but the trees will still be frozen solid. Last year I tapped March 17 and it didn't flow before March 21st.Originally Posted by Brien
2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays. 4.7L syrup.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
I usually tap in the West Nippissing area after the second weekend in March and could probably wait until the third week
I will do the same thing this year. Never really had any good sap runs that early
2019 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 44 taps 13 Liters syrup
2020 - Barrel evaporator 2 steam pans 51 taps 21 Liters syrup
2021- New homemade 2x3 evaporator and flat pan 80 drop lines to buckets
2022- (•,•)1350L naturally ROd sap 44L syrup
2023- "\_(°•°)_/" 1100L sap 30L syrup not accurate due to natural RO
2024 { ';' }1862L sap 52L syrup 52 drop lines to buckets
If you could update when you tap, that would be appreciated. I'm 1hr from my sugar bush and don't always check on it because of the ice fishing season.
I see you added a AUF in 2022, I'm contemplating adding one, how do you like it? Did it increase your boil rate much?
Will do. I did a test boil of my new pan today. The warm weather in the bush made it tempting to tap.
2021 - Year one. 15 taps using 5/16" and drop tube into buckets. Homemade barrel evaporator with 2 steam trays. 4.7L syrup.
2022. 32 taps. Added AUF.
2023. 51 taps. Ditched the steam pans for an 18x22 flat pan.
2024. 56 taps. Built a proper evaporator to fit the 18x22 flat pan and 1 steam pan.
+5 here today and +5 forecasted for tomorrow. Long range forecast needs to warm up a tad for future flows.
The plan is to boil the next two days, but I have no idea of when I will boil for a third day. As mentioned, the hope is the long range forecast will warn a little.
The sap is flowing, but not racing. It is only above freezing for about 6 hours and my hills face east. The smart play is to wait to tap, but I will like the experience of boiling for the first time on the divided pan. I have about 89 gallons to start and should get another 25+ gallons on Sunday. Who knows I might get my first draw or two depending how much sap I collect on Sunday.
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.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
I will be boiling today and tomorrow. The goal is to boil all of the sap I have collected, maybe make some syrup, but mostly to have it all boiled and concentrated. After tomorrow, I will drain the sweet from my pan and let it freeze again, unless there is a dramatic change in the forecast.
The article I posted on another thread shows that we may not get our traditional cold March and that winter might persist into April. This could lead to a short season depending how fast April warms up. Skip to near the end of the article for easier reading.
https://www.severe-weather.eu/global...ada-europe-fa/
I am still hoping that some of the days that are at freezing or just below freezing will warm up, but that may not happen. Opps just checked the forecast and those 0° C days are gone.
E2044609-74C9-46BB-86F0-4591A96908DB.jpg
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.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
Mid march
I agree with Someclown. I prefer to tap when its ready to run. If i see a run of +4 and up i tap but never before march break.
Next year I will be conservative and will tap like you say around mid March depending on the forecast.
I did put to boil 110 gallons of sap yesterday. I drained it all from the pan based on the forecast.
That forecast changes daily and is different depending on the weather forecaster. I usually go with the Weather Network, but I do not like any of the choices.
If I trusted Environment Canada’s forecast, I may not have drawn off the sweet.
Weather network 0, -1, -1, -1, 0, -1
Environment Canada 1, +1, +3, 0, +1, +2
Today was +3 here. I am headed out to collect what ran today.
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.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
I believe we have learned to tap while the sap is just starting to flow.
Easy to spot leaks right out of the gate; and seems to save us time in the long run checking lines.
2010 40 buckets- 4 gals finished
2011 80 buckets- 14 gals finished
2012 105 buckets- 8 gals finished
2013 maxed at 130 buckets- 24 gals finished
2014 new max at 240 buckets- 18 gals finished
2015 newest max 240 buckets-+48 taps on 3/16 gravity- 22.5 gals finished
2016 150 taps on 3/16 gravity- 23 gals finished
2020 250 taps on 3/16 gravity- 22 gals finished
2021 385 taps on 3/16 gravity 25 gals finished
2022 385 taps on 3/16 gravity- 26 gals finished
For those in Northern Ontario, who have sugared for a number of seasons, what is the latest you have ever started your season?
If the 14 day forecast holds, the season would start after March 23 this year.
2FC907AD-2359-4C59-B3CF-954E1C5ED080.jpg
Last edited by Swingpure; 03-08-2023 at 06:18 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.
2024 - made 48 L, December to March, primarily over two fire bowls.
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