Northern Ontario 2023

[Swingpure]

I am sitting on my dock in 21° weather watching the ice melt. Monday I stopped collecting and removed some taps. Monday night and Tuesday were warm. This morning it was supposed to ever so briefly reach +1 and warm up and that is what I saw on my thermometer. I guess for the trees it must have briefly dropped below freezing because when I went to remove the balance of the taps, the sap was running pretty good. I have to think that there is good flow today in the North Bay Area.

Today I also removed the lines on my neighbour’s property, especially the one that crosses their driveway. They are only seasonal so as long as I have it removed before the end of April, I am good. There is still tons of cleanup to do.

[aamyotte]

I was in the shack boiling yesterday afternoon. It was hot in there must have been close to mid 30's. The sap flow has not been good this week here after Monday. I collected 69L Monday evening, 7L Tuesday evening and 13L yesterday. I'm hoping the buds don't open and I can collect next week and boil on the following weekend but am not hopeful that I can do a 4th boil.

[4Walls]

Well I am absolutely amazed. Collected 600L yesterday and another 375 today. Granted, that's almost 500 taps on gravity tubing. It was 0c Wednesday morning then 22c in the afternoon. This morning it was +1 and 24 in the afternoon according to my thermometer. Did a quick test boil in a pot and the flavour is still solidly mid season taste. I ran yesterdays through the RO and blanched it in the pans. Todays is currently in the RO and will boil it all off tomorrow morning. We might just make it through this warm spell. My neighbour has 75 pails at his place. We process it here mixed in with my sap. He has a group of maples tapped that are on the north face of a small hill with a grove of balsams blocking the sun to the roots. Snow is still 2.5 ft deep there and those trees just started to run.

[Galena]

Hey all, sorry for what ought to be a post in Classifieds, but I keep getting logged out.

If anyone is getting rid of their old 7/16ths sharkfins, let me know! I will gladly buy ones that are in good shape. Please PM me with how many you have and what you want for them. Thanks.

[Brien]

Do you think I will have one last chance to make syrup in the trout creek area this week?. It looks like the weather will drop below zero tues and wed night.

[Swingpure]

Do you think I will have one last chance to make syrup in the trout creek area this week?. It looks like the weather will drop below zero tues and wed night.

Looking at your forecast you have at least two days and maybe more that sap should flow. We reached 29° here today and you can see some buds starting on some of the maple trees. Have a look at the buds in your area.

I have most things cleaned up and put away. Already planning on improvements for next year. Another thing I added to my list is heat resistant leggings, as I melted the leg of my snow pants from the heat radiating from the open door while loading wood.

[Someclown]

My taps are still in for this week. The trees are not budding around my area.
Also the trees in the bush have finally thawed so I should get a couple good runs this week if the predictors have their forecast right but I don't rely on the computer generated forecasts I just take it as it comes
I am hoping to get some dark syrup

[aamyotte]

I was away for the weekend and when I got back yesterday I has sap in the buckets that was warm but tasted good. I dumped all the buckets so that the new flow in the cooler days will be better. My insulated storage barrel still has snow around it and the bit of sap in it is still crystal clear. I'm hoping for one last boil on Saturday. If the syrup flavour is a little buddy I will probably make sugar out of it.

I was looking at the buds on my trees and they are swelling a bit but are not fully open yet.

[4Walls]

Getting the dregs of my sap dumped and tanks power washed out. Ready for the run this week. No buds yet. Still ice on the lake. No peepers calling out yet so sap should still be good.
Maple related (sort of). Anyone in the Burks falls, Parry Sound or Magnetewan area that goes out for smelts? Im thinking the smelt run might be early this year. Any scoop if they are running yet?

[Someclown]

Anyone in the Burks falls, Parry Sound or Magnetewan area that goes out for smelts? Im thinking the smelt run might be early this year. Any scoop if they are running yet?

I'm guessing the smelt may be running as the creeks around here are full flow, hoping to get the scoop tomorrow. My buddy works in Britt and is trying to find out for me
Will let you know if he gets back to me