Checking what VT sugar makers are doing

[DrTimPerkins]

Ok, thanks for the clarification. 2.5 gpt in the span of say a 10-12 hour sap run (like yesterday) would be very impressive at least in my experience.

Considering that this was the 4 hr tail end of one run and about 7 hrs of the next, with an intervening freeze of 14 hrs, and 1/2 full tanks in one of the sheds that we aren't counting (left it last night for today) we were quite happy with it. It was definitely the best run of the season (at least so far), and typical of those that we normally will get only 2-3 times per year. Just perfect conditions for us.

Things just broke open again here today (starting at 10:10am) at about 34-35 deg F with clouds and wind. Unlike the last few weeks, the trees are now just primed to run as soon as the temperatures allow. Doesn't take a lot to get them started....although good vacuum helps too. From the forecast, it should run for at least the next 2 or 3 days.

[spud]

I calculate my sap for a day from 6am to 6am. The sap is rolling in this morning. Right now I am getting 1350 GPH. Hey Dr. Tim and General I wish I could get the GPT you guys are getting. Yestrday I got 1.6 GPT on my new woods but only shy of a gallon on my old woods. My old woods is 250 feet higher. Still finding leaky CV2 spouts in the woods. I will have it all fixed by May 1st. Good luck everyone.

Spud

[DoubleBrookMaple]

I calculate my sap for a day from 6am to 6am. The sap is rolling in this morning. Right now I am getting 1350 GPH. Hey Dr. Tim and General I wish I could get the GPT you guys are getting. Yestrday I got 1.6 GPT on my new woods but only shy of a gallon on my old woods. My old woods is 250 feet higher. Still finding leaky CV2 spouts in the woods. I will have it all fixed by May 1st. Good luck everyone.

Spud

It is amazing how a little altitude (temp change) will do.
I haven't broken the freezing mark yet (31) after noon. Everything coated with ice and snow. Yesterday boiled for 11 hours to catch up as I can only boil 30 gph. It fortunately only ran for 3-4 hours as I need the break. Forecast shows a freeze for Saturday night for me. I should get two more powerful runs Fri-Sat, and Sun-Mon. I will run out of wood I think. I did not plan proper for my vacuum output potential. I can store up to 700 gallons so maybe I can get someone to come take it if it comes to that.

[Wilk6764]

I live in Monkton and have had a great year so far. Thoughts on today being the last sap run? Temps look to be too high the next few days and all next week. Good luck everyone!

[Scribner's Mountain Maple]

Where I am, I don't think my sap run has even really started. I know the temps are planned to be high for next week. But there is 3' + feet of snow in my woods. In the higher elevation of the bush, I think it has opened up only two or three times since the start of 2015. It never really ran more than a trickle today as it was hovering at 32/33. I just might make syrup in May for the first time ever.

Spud, sorry to hear about the leaking CV's. I also had some with pin holes and several others that broke when tapping. Think I may have a couple more out there. But the snow is still so deep, it is really hard going. I was thinking the other day how to entice tourist to search for leaks on "sugaring snowshoe tours". Like a free army of leak hunters. I hope the idea works.

Ben

[GeneralStark]

It really started to run hard this morning and then just kind of turned into average (for this season which isn't saying much) flow once the wind picked up and the clouds thickened up. Never went above 38 and now at 35 here in the gateway to the Greens...Here is my hypothesis for the lackluster run despite the trees being primed. Ice and snow do not thaw readily below 38F. We still have snow on the ground from last night and I had to seek shelter in the RO room multiple times today to warm up (before the INTENS-O-FIRE was rippin) because it was so cold (I am sick of cold).

So, if the NWS is correct (which is unlikely based on their record this winter) and it does really warm tomorrow and we experience thunderstorms and downpours and some really warm air (I'll believe it when I see it) THEN the sap is really going to run...If not, then it is due to the annoying as heck south wind, or perhaps it is due to these **** CV2 spouts that Dr. Tim promised would allow me to achieve 1/2 gpt. Paging Dr. Tim...wtf...

Anyway, I did make another 15 gal. of Golden Delicate this evening from approx. 800 gal. I collected last night and today til approx. 5:30 pm. 192 for season total.

[DrTimPerkins]

It is amazing how a little altitude (temp change) will do.

That's pretty much the whole story this year.

[spud]

The weather man say's it is going down to 37 tonight. Right now it is 33 and getting colder. My woods already froze up about a half hour ago. The same weather man is saying all next week the night temps will not go below 35. Something tells me we will have 3-4 nights next week that will go below freezing temp. I think I have two full weeks left of sugaring in my area and maybe more. I still cannot drive my 4-wheeler with chains in my woods because of all the snow.

Spud

[Sugarmaker's dad]

Sounds like everyone is keeping plenty busy today. Had over 10,000 gallons as of 12:30 am and sap is still coming in at 400 gal/hr. We've made 29 barrels so far including what we've bottled so we are pretty close to 50% crop. Sure hope we can make the other half. Good luck tomorrow.

[Flat Lander Sugaring]

900 to 1200 every day so dam busy process all night get up do a rinse 2am start processing again. over 200 now. not bAD for only putting up 4 to 5 cords of wood.

need several more 40 gal barrels. hoping to go see Thad this weekend