Maple Sugar 2022

[Chuck White]

We get buds on the Soft Maple quite a bit earlier than on the Sugar Maple.

[Lebel Logging]

Yes reds maples buds earlier around here too

[Ed_K]

 I have found the same that my reds bud out earlier.

[celliott]

Hi all, I found the 2022 thread
I’m all good. Made a post in the 2021 maple thread before I realized what year this was
We added a second 6x10 steam pan in the middle of the season. And a 4th high brix h20 RO. Got it plumbed up and operational right before some of our biggest runs of the year. We saw upwards of 200gpm of sap into our sugarhouse for an entire day. Wasn’t taking long to go from tree to barrel. We now have the capacity to make 800gph of syrup on the two evaporators. We had plenty of trials and tribulations and breakdowns. Lost a 25hp vacuum pump on the first run. Was a mess. Got a good used one from a fellow sugar maker and it lived outside all year. Couldn’t get the releaser pumps we needed so we cobbled something together for a 90k tap releaser it worked good!
Was the absolute coldest tapping season I’ve been through. So many single digit or below zero days. Let me tell you, if you are careful with a lightweight tapping hammer, and use a soft spout (nylon or thin wall polycarbonate) the risk of splitting a tree is very low. We drilled probably over 1/2 our taps at 10 degrees or less and made 6 pounds per tap. If that’s not proof I don’t know what is.
Personally I drilled over 22,000 this season, my best yet!
We ran out of barrels and had to get some loaners, good problem to have. We made a bit over 64,000 gallons of syrup and hit 6 pounds per tap, 0.56 gallons per tap off 117,000 taps! Our best year yet. Always trying to improve and maximize what we get with the weather we are given. This year was good weather for northern Vermont.
Also really enjoying being Dada!

















Had Covid in the middle of tapping. Took the hound dog to work with me and tapped alone, pretty good numbers for being sick. I was fortunate I didn’t get it bad.




R&R

[Magicman]

Thanks for the update Chris.  I wondered where you were and am glad to read that all is OK.  I love seeing your little partner.

[Walnut Beast]

Nice pictures and updates 👍

[petefrom bearswamp]

I posted in the other thread, but once again good to hear from you.

[Chuck White]

Good to hear from you Chris, been wondering where you've been!

Also, good to hear you had a good season, we doubled what we thought we'd do after the 3rd week and ended up with 195 gallons.

[Stephen1]

Thats great Chris, looks like a great season and life is rolling along like it should. Living the Dream!