Mountaincamp Method

[tbb39]

I'm going to be using the Mountaincamp Method this winter and was wondering would a supper be OK to use above the deep or is this to much space for them to hold heat.

[dug_6238]

I like using a shallow, or medium if I don't have one available. It minimizes the emtpy overhead space a little. When pouring dry granulated sugar, the height of the mound works out well in a shallow - you need to leave a little space around the edges if you can for air to circulate, so it'd be hard to make a sugar mound higher than a shallow and still leave room for ventilation. You'll be puting the inner cover over over this pile, so you don't want to pile it high enough that it'll block the hole anyway.

Actually, I noticed last year that about the height of a cut comb 'box-type' shallow might be just about the right height. It's somewhere around 3/4" or 1" shorter than a normal shallow. There aren't a lot of them around though...shallow or medium will still suffice.

I hope this helps. A few of us have photos of this setup posted on this site, so look around for them. If you have more questions by all means please do ask.

[tbb39]

thanks I think im going to cut some boards up 2" and use them.

[dug_6238]

2"? You might need more like at least 4" high, although mlewis48 mentioned using 3" shims in another post (http://www.beesource.com/forums/showthread.php?t=222862&page=2). My thinking was - you're making a 'mound' or 'pile' of sugar, and for there to be enough for them to begin to cluster up into if they reach the top, you'll need at least a few inches deep of sugar, plus a little room overhead for ventilation. You can ty the 2", but you might find that you need to swap it out for a little taller box.

If you do need to swap it out during the winter, it's easy as long as you don't pile the sugar against the outside of the box - leave room free around it for air circulation.

One more note on replenishing supplies - if you check it in late or mid-winter and find that they've eaten a hole up through and only have a ring of sugar aroung the outside left, you can just refill it. Put down either a single sheet of paper towel or a small portion of one page of newspaper, covering or filling the hole. Don't crumple or double it. You're only trying to cover the hole so you can pour more sugar in to fill the hole without it just running down through. You can then pour more sugar in to just refill back to the original level.

Hope this helps. Let us know if you do find an 'up-side' to the 2" box though.

[GB]

Last year I tried a variation on this method. I used a rapid feeder without the outer cone cover and filled with granulated sugar. The bees came up through the cone as normal on warm enough days and used the majority of the sugar over the winter period. I have peaked roofs and the feeders fitted under nicely without needing a spacer and I also insulated above and around them. Will be doing the same this winter.

[Michael Bush]

I did mediums last year and it worked fine. The sugar takes up most of the space and the extra space is somewhere for the moist air to go. The "ceiling" is still the sugar.

[Isiah]

I left a medium super on top of two deeps on one hive and bees have about 3 or 4 frames filled so far. I'm also continuing to feed sugar syrup. The two hive bodies look and feel very full. I thought I'd just leave it on for the winter. I was wondering if it would be ok to move filled frames to the outside of the medium and fill in the center with dry sugar later on. Or maybe I don't even need to feed dry sugar? Any opinions?

[tbb39]

ok thanks i will use a medium and put in 5-10 lbs of sugar.

[kbee]

I have been using a slightly different setup. I built inner covers with a 2" rim on one side that I turn over for winter sugar space. I find that I don't need 5lbs of sugar. 2-3lbs seems to work well for me. I'm using it for emergency stores not primary stores. I check on warm days and replenish those that use it. Usually only about 30% get into the sugar.