03/22/2006

Record-Eagle/Sheri McWhirter
Michael Ashton, 12, of California, said he loves Michigan after he helped park interpreter Craig Kasmer drill into a maple tree at Hartwick Pines State Park in Grayling. The park is celebrating Maple Syrup Day this Saturday.

Hartwick Pines celebrates syrup

Maple Syrup Day is scheduled for this Saturday

By
Record-Eagle staff writer

GRAYLING — Two children stand in the woods, fingers in their mouths, funny expressions on their faces.

They expected maple tree sap to taste much sweeter than it did, although they did detect a hint of sugar.

"Does syrup taste better if it comes from trees?" asked Michael Ashton, 12, at Hartwick Pines State Park near Grayling.

"It always does," said Craig Kasmer, park interpreter.

Kasmer and his coworkers are busy this week, tapping sugar maple trees and preparing the park's visitor center for the eighth annual Maple Syrup Day on Saturday. The Ashton family is from California and happened to stop in Tuesday morning for an impromptu demonstration, even helping tap a tree themselves.

"It gets harder to turn," said Hannah Ashton, 14, as she worked the drill into a tree.

Kasmer showed them how to turn the drill at the proper angle, how to collect sap and explained ideal weather conditions for tapping trees.

"The best sap-flowing weather is when it's below freezing overnight and around 40 degrees and sunny during the day," he said. "But when the buds finally break and push their leaves out on the trees, it releases a chemical that makes the sap bitter."

Sap rises from tree roots in early spring to provide nutrients to the buds and leaves, then recedes underground in autumn. About 60 gallons of sap is already collected at the park, which will likely produce less than two gallons of syrup.

"It takes 40 gallons of sap to make one gallon of syrup," Kasmer told the children. "So remember that when you're pouring it over your pancakes."

The event is between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Saturday and more than 500 children attended last year. Planned events include sap boil-down and tree-tapping demonstrations, along with a chance to taste fresh maple sap and syrup.

Questions will be answered about backyard and commercial sugarbush operations and genuine maple-sugar candy. Syrup from northern Lower Michigan also will be available for sale. There is no fee for the event, although a state motor vehicle permit is required for park entry.

For more information or directions to the park, which is located near Grayling, call (989) 348-2537.