To tap or not to tap

[PerryW]

that is the question.

I'm just northwest of Franconia Notch NH and at the same approximate latitude as Barre & Montpelier VT with my sugarbush elevation from 800'-1200'.

I usually try to wait until March 10 to tap, but so far the weather seems to be warmer than average with the last two days hitting 40 deg (and not freezing at night). I have the feeling that with a hard freeze, we will start getting good sap runs.

The 10 day forecast shows lows in the high teens and low 20's with highs in the mid to high 30's. Any of you gravity tapping guys at my latitude & elevation planning on drilling holes yet?

[stagecoach maples]

yeah i am in irasburg in the northeast kingdom and i have started tapping this week will finish tommorow

2000 taps
3 by 10 small bros lightning oil fired
massey ferguson261 with 125 gal tank on back
and tank on front and a whole lot of time during mud season

[PerryW]

got about 450 tapped. Another 300 to go.

Running pretty good.

[drewlamb]

I'm waiting. Our weather forecast sounds similar to yours here in n-central VT and with highs only in the mid-30s and lows in the teens, I don't anticipate anything too substantial. I only have 300 or so taps out, so I can tap all my trees in a day which makes timing the first good run pretty flexible.