A series of cool nights followed by afternoons in the 50s has the sap still rising in campus maples. Students studying forestry, and those in the "woodsmen's" afternoon activity are busy gathering and boiling. The school's largest stand of sugar maples is east of the ski jump. This photo captures the woodsmen trudging through an immature stand of trees--selectively cleared a few years ago--walking the line up to the productive sugarbush:
The young maples you see will be reach full potential between 2050 and 2100. Back at the sugarhouse, there is wood to be split. Nate is telling Wyatt, "Just hold that piece right there!"
Keeping the evaporater functioning just right is an exact science. The sugar content of syrup is measured in a variety of ways, and the temperature of the boil is controlled by the mix of soft and hard woods burned. It's a team effort. Nora has the pleasant task of "pouring off" syrup prior to a final straining.
The final boil is expected to be Tuesday. This has been a productive sugaring season!
