Schenectady-Albany-Saratoga Counties

[MRFNY]

Hi all, checking in. Getting excited for another season. Days are getting longer. Currently Eying next Thursday as being a potential start, but will wait until we are closer and see the extended forecast from there. won't tap if it is just a couple of days of potential. I'm looking to do the same 50 taps as last year.

Pete

Hey Pete! Hope all is well! It was looking like we were going to tap soon but appears to be only one or two days of temps that would yield anything. There are a couple nights that won't get below freezing so I think we are going to hold off. After last year though, I'm not sure I even know! LOL

[Aslowrie]

I'm out of town next week and am going to check for forcast when I get home next weekend. I feel like I tapped to early last year and we got a cold spell, I regretted not waiting until presidents day.

That said, I cut a new trail in my woods and found trees for another 10+ taps, so I'm anxious :-).

[MRFNY]

I'm out of town next week and am going to check for forcast when I get home next weekend. I feel like I tapped to early last year and we got a cold spell, I regretted not waiting until presidents day.

That said, I cut a new trail in my woods and found trees for another 10+ taps, so I'm anxious :-).

I tapped on 2/11 and 2/12 last year and by 2/18 I had already bottled 6.5 gallons. That is crazy for me on 100 taps all on buckets!

[ADK_XJ]

Sounds like everyone is about on the same page as us, holding out for a bit longer to see how the temps shake out...right now the (extra) long-range forecast has some nights in the teens the week of the 12th but then it looks real good after President's Day on the 19th.

We're not adding any new lines this year but plan to rig up one of those small Shurflo pump type vacuum handlers for the 100 or so taps on 3/16th using our old RO pump and then I'm hoping to have a two-post 4x40 membrane RO put together by the time we have any serious sap.

That's the plan at least...

[MRFNY]

Buddy of mine a few miles from me tapped yesterday. Said his buckets were about 1/3 full after 3 hours. Looks like middle of this week could be a decent run for a couple of days but then the overnight temps dont get below freezing and then it appears we are in for a longer cold spell. I still think I'm going to hold off.

[MRFNY]

Got the RO set up and did the initial flush today. Few minor leaks on a couple connections but easy fix!

[The Heldeberg Sapper]

Also holding off here in East Berne. Im sure the sap has been flowing decent the past week or so and it looks like this weekend would be solid. Have about 7" of snow on the ground up here but this winter has been anything but. Last year i tapped on 2/9 and made a lot of early syrup in Feb before things froze up again late Feb and early March and then opened back up again mid march. I am hoping the long term forecast is correct and the rest of Feb is on the colder side. I dont have a lot of firewood this year and ive still got syrup left from last year so while I really want to tap im going to hold off. My plan is to catch up on firewood for the home and syrup the next couple weeks. Hope everyone has a good season!

[sugarman3]

I am holding off till the middle of Feb,even using check valves on vacumn ,last year tapped early in Feb[6th] had some good weather at end of march,flows weren't as good as the taps that we did the 1st week of March,firm believer that after 50 yrs,tap holes last about 6 weeks,even with check valves

[Trevor5]

I will be holding off on tapping until at least presidents day weekend. Might even wait another week if this cold snap actually happens.

[ADK_XJ]

Just cleaned and sanitized all the buckets, think I may tap in those tomorrow with the kids before the SuperBowl. My tubing lines still need some work and a few sections need to be replaced so that may happen Presidents Day, as planned.