January Journal

[darkmachine]

It's tempting, the extended forcast calls for at least 15 days of sap weather, but if we did manage to put in taps not sure we would get much just on gravity, especially if the weatherman read his crystal ball wrong.

We'll probably wait, for at least another two weeks to make sure it doesn't freeze up again. We'll be kicking ourselves if the season is actually starting early for us, usually no taps in until mid February.

[WESTVIRGINIAMAPLER]

It's too early to tap yet in WV, things are frozen hard as a rock and it would take a week of above freezing just to get things started thawing out and I think you are well north of me.

[darkmachine]

Last season we didn't start tapping until the third week in February. And you are right, every thing is pretty well frozen solid around here. We'll be watching the weather closely though. How much snow did you get down there in souther wv, we got about 25" here (mostly gone now).

[3rdgen.maple]

If the weatherman can actually predict something right we got a warmup coming in the 15 day outlook. Got mid 40's in there. I am getting a bad twitch in my tapping finger looking at that. It is close maplemaniacs it is close. Hope everyone is ready. I got this feeling it is gonna be an early one this year.

[KenWP]

You guys are lucky. We are haveing out forecast warm spell now and it's still below feezeing. Long range forecast says all the cold is going to settle up here instead for another month or so. Thanks guys.

PS Just checked the forecast and the cold weather they had forecast Sunday disapeared and now it's supposed to almost get warm. Not enough to tap but hopefully enough to get some work done around here.

[Dave Y]

KenWP
Dont get all hang dog about the weather. There is nothing you can do about it. Besides weather forcasters are speculaters. It is not going to get that warm down here.

[PATheron]

My trigger finger is twitching too! Im going to probly keep getting ready though and stick with the end of the month tapping schedule. Ive still got a lot to do so I probly better get it all done before I start getting a lot of sap. I worked last night on hooking up the releaser across the road and got back up at 0330 this morning and went back to work on it. Should have it all done tonight. Kind of neat with a horizontal releaser dumping into a tote and then its going to run down to the road to a tank. Things are starting to come together now. January 31 we're drillin holes. Theron

[Dave Y]

Theron,
What is you tap count for this year? any Ideas?

[PATheron]

Dave- My best guess is 5100. Ive got a buddy too that says hes bringing me sap from maybe 1700 gravity taps. I told him Id try to boil for him, I think I can. Im hungry for money this year to pay for stuff Ive bought. Ill have to apply myself. Theron

[Dave Y]

I Know what you mean, I have a lot to pay for myself.