Last edited by Swingpure; 11-17-2022 at 07:18 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.
I never thought I would need snowshoes, got an extra set. I would say we currently have about 8 inches on the ground right now, give or take and they are calling for an additional 8 to 10 inches starting tomorrow around noon. Really early in the year for us to get a snowstorm like this. The Farmers Almanac was spot on for November. I am not looking forward to January and February, except it brings me closer to syrup season.
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
Wow.
So far we have just had a dusting of snow. The streamers have been missing us, but I think we will get our share tomorrow.
As long as the Great Lakes are warm and not ice covered and you get the right wind, we will get lake effect snow. 109 days until the sap flows.
I am so fearful of going up the long steep hill in waist deep snow, I am actually going to be training so I have the stamina and strength to do it. As mentioned before, I hope to break a trail twice a month, so come tapping day it will not be overly difficult to make it up the hill.
Personally my experience with snow shoes in deep snow, when you are the one breaking the trail, is it is still a lot of work as well.
Good luck dealing with your snow and take your time. Two people in Buffalo died from heart attacks clearing their snow.
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.
The attached photo shows some of the snow that has fallen, but also the maple tree that hangs onto some of it leaves right through winter. I have two collection barrels sitting in place, my other barrels are all in covered storage. You can see one of the clay coloured barrels on the left.
We had only received about 9 cms (3.5”) by 9 am, but we are now directly in line with a steamer and will have a lot more by the time this ends.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/015z...iEgXWpB29UbyEA
Last edited by Swingpure; 11-19-2022 at 09:31 AM.
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 have a tractor for clearing snow and luckily most of my wood's trails are from previously logged trails that just need to be kept open. Easy to get to my tree's to hang more lines.
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
Yeah, a tractor will not make it up my lines.
https://share.icloud.com/photos/04e6...Iu-GcqhS_ve3CA
If I had won the two billion dollar powerball the other day, I definitely would have got a tractor.
108 days to go.
The biggest thing on my mind now in the maple world is anticipating my pan, pan cover, float box, base stack and base stack plate and 36” double wall 8” pipe, being made and ready for pickup. Hopefully sometime in December I will know a build date and hopefully I will get them before February 1.
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.
2023 - 2' X 6' Smoky Lake Products "Silverplate" evaporator + Increase taps up to 500
2022 - 295 Sap Sak taps - Sold sap.
2017-2021 - Didn't tap.
2016 - 150 Sap Sak taps - Sold sap.
https://www.larrybohenwebsolutions.com
Our snow total for 16 thru 20th was 18 inches give or take 2 inches depending on where you measure. How about you Gary are you getting hit now with snow?
OrangeAgain, isn't it nice having those trails to work with.
2004 - 2012 2x3 flat pan 25 to 60 taps
2012 2x3 new divided pan w/draw off 55 taps
2018 - didn't boil surgery - bought new evaporator
2019 new SML 2x4 raised flue high output evap. 65 taps
made 17 gal. syrup
2020 - only put out 53 taps - made 16.25 gal. syrup
2021 - Didn't work out
2022 - 25 taps on bags / 8 taps on 3/16's line - late start
2025 - No tapping for me
We ended up with 11”, we were lucky. We might get a couple more tonight. Orchard Park (Buffalo) got 77”. There are a number of places in Ontario that got a whole lot more than we did.
The one lucky thing I have with my collections areas, is one is 20 feet from the road, the other is 7 feet from my driveway and the third, I can pump directly from the collection barrel to my RO barrel.
Putting the taps in and then looking for any potential leaks will be the fun thing, but collection will be easy. If I wanted to part with about $500, I could have got a 100 gallon horizontal tank that would fit nicely in the bed of my Ranger, that would save a few trips back and forth from my far collection site. I did not want to part with $500 and will make a few 2 minute trips with my 35 gallon tank on my ATV.
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.