Tapping in Alexandria

[ROBIEZ]

Started tapping sunday,got out 75 on tubing and 50 buckets.Tapped some more after work this week,got another 50 on tubing and 25 bucket put out.Have about 50 more on tubing and afew more buckets to get out.Sap has been running some but not that great,should have enough to sweeten the pans this saturday.The snow is deep out in the woods,about 3' to 4'.I have been getting out to the woods by snowmobile and working in the bush on snowshoes.

[Parker]

Definatly tough sledding out there,,do you have to gather buckets in the woods or does the tubing take the sap roadside? I know I will have some spiles 6 feet off the ground to pull in may,,,,but what are you going to do?

[ROBIEZ]

Hey Parker, sledding is not too bad, I have been keeping the trails packed down all winter with the snowmobile.And yes, I do have to gather buckets in the woods,they are tree that I can not get with tubing. The good thing is that I can drive the snowmobile to within 20 to 30 feet of the buckets.Having a hard time finding the old tap holes, most are buried under the snow,I to will have taps 5 to 6 feet off the ground.Will have to bring a ladder out this spring to get some of the taps out.Most of my tubing is out in the woods to,lots of flat ground,so I tap small clusters of trees and run them into barrels.Most barrel are a quarter mile from any roads.The snowmobile is vary important to get the sap out,and when the snow is gone I use my 4x4 tractor for hailing sap.Where abouts in Hill are you tapping? That pretty close to me, maybe only 15 minute drive from my place. Brett

[Parker]

The last few days we have been tapping out Quimbys in Hill,,it is on Bunker Hill road,,,the place with the hayfields on both sides of the road,,,come on up and visit if you have time ,,should be there all day today finishing up,,,(I hope)

[ROBIEZ]

Had to work today.Got home and spent the rest of the day getting the sugarhouse ready.Going to gather tomorrow and boil for the first time this season.I would like to catch up with you sometime and checkout your operation. Brett

[Parker]

Come by any time--we are full time sugaring till it buds out,,I PM you,

[Cardigan99]

Hey Robiez, is that you down on town pound across from the old sawmill?

Todd

[ROBIEZ]

That would be me,Where are located Cardigan99. I gathered saturday morning, got about 110 gallon and boiled that afternoon and took off about 5 quarts of fancy. Waiting for the next run now.The area where most of my taps are,is now under water from all this rain we just got. I hope I didn't lose any buckets out there. I will have to wait for the water to recede, and go out and check buckets and lines.Brett

[Cardigan99]

Robiez, I'm out on Knowles Hill up by the AMC lodge. We pulled in 100 gal last week. Sweetend the pans yesterday and pulled off 8 quarts tonite. You've got a bunch of water down that way. I got stuck in that puddle briefly on saturday.

Todd

[ROBIEZ]

Got out the other day and checked buckets and barrels after the water went down, did not lose any buckets or barrels, water would have to had come up another 2 or 3 feet to have reached the buckets.Put out another 25 taps on tubing today,and sap was flowing good on the new taps but slow on the older taps so I pulled a couple of taps and the holes were full of ice,been getting too cold at night and not warm enough in the day to get a good run, hoping for some warmer weather.

Brett