Last weekend we headed up to Monkton to start our first sugaring season with tubing in the sugarwoods. We weren't sure how much of our tubing would still be strung up in the woods after winter storms and fallen trees and limbs, but it wasn't too bad. There were a few downed lines, but the worst problem was animal chew damage to the lines. Some of it was definitely squirrels or chipmunks, higher up on the trees, but according to local sources, young coyotes also really like to chew the rubbery lines when they are teething. So, in any case, a lot of chewed sections had to be cut out and new lines spliced in. Still, I think tapping went quicker with the tubing than in previous years of having to haul 200 buckets and lids down into the sugarbush. We were done by Saturday afternoon, and had plenty of time to enjoy the sauna and even try a little (still unsuccessful) ice fishing on Grandma's pond.
Now, we just need the weather to cooperate. There have been a few isolated days here and there where the mercury reached about 38 and the taps started to drip, but the vast majority of days have been solidly below freezing (it's about -7 on St. Patty's Day as I write this!) so whatever sap has flowed out is generally frozen solid in the tubing or the bottom of the buckets on the top of the hill. Uncle Larrie and Aunt Mary are up helping mom this week, but so far there hasn't been much to do that is sugaring related. Not even any sap in the tanks yet. Mom's friend Dave who owns Boyer Orchards and has a big sugaring operation keeps telling her she has to be patient... so we'll see. We are up to VT again in five days and hope there will be something to boil!
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| Haley was so tired after her weekend of sugaring that she passed out IN the grocery cart! |
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