The trees are starting to bud and that usually signifies the end of maple tapping season. This last weekend is a wonderful opportunity to stretch your legs and see what all the maple tasting fuss is about.

New York's annual Maple Weekends are a wonderful way to ge familiar with the process of making maple syrup. Producers all over the state offer tours, pancake breakfasts, events and even entertainment. These special dedicated weekends are a way for maple producers to showcase their maple products. For us, it is a great excuse to get outside and taste maple syrup.

According to Uihlein Director Mike Farrell, the Northern Maple Specialist at the Cornell Sugar Maple Research Extension Program, their research continues to provide ways to assist small maple producers to become more efficient.

Through the US Forest Service and Cornell Uihlein has helped produce hybrid sugar maples that produce a 3% to 4% higher sugar content in the sap. The average maple tree produces only 2% sugar. Some of Uihlein trees have been planted over 30 years ago and continue to be strong producers of high sugar sap. They can be viewed at the Uihlein property. The seeds are available at three different nurseries in Pennsylvania, Maine and Missouri.

Though even with the warm weather Farrell expects to be making syrup on March 24-25, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. at the Bear Cub Road location. They will continue to offer tours and samplings. There are also 5 miles of trails through the tapped trees that are open to the public. There is even an opportunity to sample coffee made with maple sap instead of water. Yum!

Whiteface Mountain is hosting two Maple Days (March 24-25) as it gets set to transition from ski season to mountain biking season. The two-day event is free and open to the public, not just ski ticket holders. Held outside the Main Base Lodge everyone will have an opportunity to sample this season's maple. There is even talk about making maple candy. All the proceeds from any purchased products directly benefit Lake Placid's Shipman Youth Center.

However you enjoy your maple syrup, whether in a bottle, on pancakes or coming right out of Uihlein's commercial facility, it is always a great way to see the season's change in the Adirondacks. 

 

Diane Chase is a writer and author of the Adirondack Family Activities guidebook Adirondack Family Time Lake Placid and the High Peaks: Your Four-Season Guide to Over 300 Activities. Her second Adirondck Family Time book for the Champlain Valley: Plattsburgh to Ticonderoga will be in stores summer 2012.