For the past 35 years, Judi and Perry Munro have lived in Black River on the South Mountain of Kings County, offering a variety of activities for people who, like themselves, share a love and passion for the outdoors.
In early spring, they hold their ever-popular maple syrup tours. Visitors can stop at the sugar shack and discover how maple syrup is made. There’s a rustic lodge where a meal of pancakes, sausages, baked beans and fresh-baked brown bread is served. There is also live music, sleigh rides and taffy on the snow. While there, visit the Munro’s little gallery, where paintings, wood sculptures, quilted wall hangings, baskets - and maple syrup - are available.
In late February, as winter loses its icy grip and spring is just around the corner, the sugar maple trees start to be tapped. When the days are warm and nights are cold, Perry says, the sap is collected and boiled down to make fresh maple syrup.
The lodge opens at 9:30 a.m. and has five seatings (by reservation only) at 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sleigh rides run from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. as required, at a cost of $2 per ride.
Visitors to the lodge need to walk a short distance (approximately 600 yards) from the parking lot to the sugar camp. Limited parking is available at the camp for those who are physically handicapped, but the Munros ask visitors with special needs to please phone ahead for arrangements. The gravel road may be snowy or slippery, so visitors should keep this in mind and dress appropriately. Washroom facilities are of the “Johnny-on-the-Spot” type, with hand-washing options.
The dates for the lodge opening this year are the weekends of: March 20 and 21, 27 and 28, and April 3 and 4, 10 and 11. Mountain Maple Lodge is located at 47 Upper Sunken Lake Rd.
WEBLINK: http://www.perrymunro.com/maple.html
