2016 Maple Syrup

[zzammon]

Just checking in.  Surprised there is only one 2016 comment.  Mankato area is seeing sap according to locals.  Heading north to Little Falls area to tap the sugar bush today.  I am guessing there has been a light run here and there, but thinking/hoping a big run is coming in the next week or two.  What are the rest of you sappers seeing?

[Gissert]

I noted a couple of my yard silvers leaking out of wounds on the 19th when it warmed up some. I tapped a small one right next to them and it was dry, and was still dry yesterday. My partner tapped a walnut in her yard and was geting sap yesterday. 

 

I will probably hold off tapping my sugars until the 8th, judging by the weather forecasts. Switching over to homemade PVC sack holders and bags this year. No more jug cleaning for this guy

[zzammon]

Set 44 taps on Saturday in Little Falls area.  Most were providing sap.  Collected about 18 gallons on Sunday morning.

[Gissert]

Got back from LOTW this after noon to find a strong run. Of 170 taps, I had about 30 bags that blew off the taps. Still

pulled 85 gallons.

[zzammon]

That's good news.  My Little Falls page is east-southeast of you.  If you have sap, I likely do too.  Keep the reports coming Gissert.  I set one lone tap around Mankato yesterday morning for fun and some drinking water.  Sap didn't drip, it poured out.  Probably had 2 gallons by evening.  Interested to check it when I get home from work.

[Gissert]

Pulled another 65 this morning 14 hrs after I collected last night. Hoping for a decent freeze Tuesday and Wednesday nights...if not it could be a short season

 

 

[zzammon]

NOAA says 29F for the next two nights, I hope they are right.  Partner cooked off 50 gallons yesterday from Saturday and Sunday.

[Gissert]

Went out this morning and the bags had not done much. Been hanging at 28 degrees all day which I hope will hit the reset button. Finished 3.75 of lovely Grade A light fancy last night. Hardly any niter in the pan or filters. Rand another 75 gallons thru and have that reduced to about 3.5. Looks like another batch of light.

 

[zzammon]

Cooked 65 gallons of clear sap near Little Falls, to make 1.5 gallons on nice amber syrup.  I really like the flavor of the red/amber syrup the best.

[Gissert]

In another slowdown again. Hopefully these freezes will get them going again. So far I have finished 15.25 gallons with an overall sap to syrup ratio of 41:1. Finished 5 gallons yesterday that was 32:1 - never had sap that good before.

 

[zzammon]

Sounds nice.  Partner headed that way on Friday.  Hoping it is running today and tomorrow, at least enough for a boil on Saturday.

[Gissert]

Checked my taps today. It froze last night, and most trees woke up a bit today. Not a strong run, but I'll take it. The next 7 to 10 days look good.

[zzammon]

Lots of sap over the last week.  Cooked down as much as we could and pulled taps.  Done for the year.  Turned out nice to begin with, than a couple week break, then a fast run.

[Gissert]

It was a good year. Most syrup I've ever made (43 gallons) and earliest I ever quit. I could have kept going but I was out of jars, wood, and energy. 

[mpester]

Strange year for me.  Switched from one pan on a turkey fryer to wood and cinder blocks.  I tried to order a Mason hobby evaporator but got my order in to late for him to get one to me.  The trees looked like they were budding so I pulled the taps earlier than I should have and missed a couple of weeks.  Only made a couple of gallons this year.  Too little made this year to bother filtering so I have a lot of niter in some of the jars but we do not really care.  Learned a very important lesson - do not put your setup right next to the lake.  That lake comes up every year when the ice goes out.  Looking forward to next year.