First Syrup Weekend a Success

The first syrup weekend of 2013 was a success!  We were looking forward to a weekend of gushing sap, boiling like crazy and the syrup stock getting a good start this weekend.  It was all seeming to be a perfect weather weekend as the prediction was for the temperatures to be in the 40’s and sun on Saturday. 

Greg and Blain started out OK on Thursday collecting 90 gallons for the first sap gathering.  Greg started boiling later on Friday in hopes of another large sap run but the weather was just a bit too cool for that to happen.  By the time the temps got up there the day was about done.  We had sap running for just a couple of hours, so he shut down and decided to wait until Saturday when the cousins were here to dump sap again. 

Saturday morning was cold and no sun.  The cousins arrived around 1:00 p.m.   They also brought a few friends and we had some friends stop by.   At 2:00 p.m. we went out and gathered 95 gallons.  It was enough to boil for the day.  We enjoyed visiting in the cabin while Greg boiled.  No finished syrup on Saturday.

Sunday morning we all met back at the cabin at 10:00 a.m. to dump buckets again.  We did not have a freeze Saturday night so the sap ran all night.  The temperature was 35 at 6:00 a.m. Greg had gathered 40 gallons alone to get the boiler started. We dumped another 95, then 25, 27 and a final evening dump of 60 gallons.  Our total was 247 gallons of sap for Sunday.  Total sap so far 432 gallons.  A pretty good start to the season.

Boiling continued through the day Sunday and until 8:00 p.m.  We had a bonfire and Greg finished a total of 6 gallons of syrup today.  It was light, buttery and good!  And, the maple crown toddies were yummy!  A fun syrup weekend!