Sugar cat

Highland County, Virginia

This bobcat stands guard In the rafters of Duff's Sugar House. He carries a small jug of maple syrup around his neck

Hope you have enjoyed our visit to the Highland Maple Festival. This Sunday our Third Sunday church is in Head Waters, a small mountain town in Highland County. Stop in for a visit.

Have a great weekend and thanks for reading Photography In Place.

Duff's Sugar Camp

Highland County, Virginia 

During the Highland Maple Festival, serveral sugar camps open their doors to visitors who wish to see how maple syrup is produced. Tim Duff and his family operate Duff's Sugar House, the smallest syrup producer in the county. It is a labor of love, and an attempt to preserve traditional methods of sugaring that are nearly lost.

The maple trees are tapped with spiles made of elderberry, the old fashioned way, and the sap or "sugar water" is collected by hand in buckets. The sap is brought to the Sugar House for cooking.

Duff's Sugar House

The sap is cooked for 12 to 14 hours in a wood-fired pan, which requires constant attention.

After being cooked in the pan, the remaining dark liquid is transferred to a sugar kettle for final "finishing." Cooking in the kettle takes another 5 to 6 hours, the syrup is cooled for 24 hours and then is filtered and bottled.

Mr. Duff and his iron sugar kettle, which dates back to 1885

Highland Maple Festival

Monterey, Virginia

The annual Highland Maple Festival has been held in Highland County, Virginia since 1958 to promote and celebrate the region's production of sugar maple products. The main activities of the festival, part street fair and part crafts show, are hosted in the town of Monterey on the second and third weekend of March each year. If you are in the area, it is not too late to plan to attend this coming weekend. Highland County is often referred to as "Virginia's Switzerland" and the drive through the Allegheny Mountains alone makes the trip worthwhile.

Foot-powered spring pole lathe

Shenandoah Mountain Pass

 Highland County, Virginia 

Tuesday, 13th May, 1862

"I have been much struck with the wild & mountain scenery. The Shenandoah Mt.Pass is grand indeed, you asend to the very top of the mountain & from there you see as far as the eyes can reach, Mtn. after Mtn. in every variety of shape & grandeur whilst away down below a little valley & stream with winding road, winding around from Mt. to Mt. to desend the grade."

 Diary of Frank B Jones

Major, 2nd VA Infantry