Tapping Ends, Ice-Out Begins

Last week started off seasonably cool and windy. As the days passed, the wind calmed and the temperature dropped to a January-esque level. It eventually warmed back up, but the cold part definitely left a shivery mark.

The wind at the start of the week dropped winter detritus on the heads of anyone under the pines around Lucerne.

The snow in the woods started the week around the half foot mark, not deep enough to impede the wheeled from cruising the sapping field.

The maples started off very leaky. By Sunday, they were less so.

Single digit morning lows produced frost blossoms on any previously unfrozen puddle.

The delicate ice structures quickly melted in the sun.

The single digit temperatures stopped the maples, allowing the sugarmen to catch up with the sap backlog. A daily canning of syrup became a thing.

After the canning a new batch would be put to the heat. The sap ran sweet this year. In a typical year, sugarists shoot for a 40 to 1 ratio. We ended up with 37 gallons of sap to 1 gallon of syrup.

It warmed up by the weekend. The snow in the sugarbush was replaced by mud.

All of the buckets on the taps have a lid to keep rain/snow out. Most of the lids are simple galvanized steel, but a few were made with some scrap aluminum with text from some latter grade school books on them. By the end of the season, collectors sport stronger arms, legs, and vocabulary.

At the start of the weekend, Lucerne was still frozen tight to the shoreline.

By Sunday, open water could be seen around the islands and around some of the other edges.

Maples were still dripping a little when the order was given to pull the taps.

Pulling taps, buckets, and lids goes much faster that putting them in. The footing was better, too.

During most of the week, the sky cleared at sunset. This lead to cooler mornings and extended the syrup season by a few extra days.

We are seeing more squirrel and less wild turkey these days.

Tapping season has ended and Lake Wabikon is almost open. Lake Lucerne usually goes out about 2 weeks later (+/- a week). All will be keeping one eye on the melting lake ice while washing lids, buckets, and spiles. This week is best described as the "on your mark" time for the people that like to race to get their piers in. There was still some snow on the golf course on Saturday, but we're thinking that the first rounds of golf will precede ice-out by a few days this year.

-Nemo enjoyed an aperitif with his demitasse, wired and buzzed can lead to interesting adventures.

Tapping Ends, Ice-Out Begins

April 7th through 13th, 2025