Salt Shakers Shake Up The Wilderness

STANHOPE — Formed over a pint of beer about four years ago, what started out as a couple of guys running has evolved into the Salt Shakers — a running group of more than 30 members.

Salt Gastropub's owner Brad Boyle and Robbie Davidson were chatting at the bar in Stanhope about their shared interest in running. The two began to start running on the Sussex Branch trail which is part of the 160-mile Highlands trail that runs from the Hudson River to the Delaware River and crosses right behind the Gastropub. Afterwards the two would celebrate their achievement with a cold beer at Salt.

Salt is "not just restaurant but an environment," says Davidson, Founder and President of the Salt Shakers.

As time went on, more and more patrons and friends heard about the weekly run, and wanted to join in. Thus Salt Shakers was born, with the motto — "my drinking club has a running problem."

"It comes down to loving to run in the woods," Davidson said.

The club now meets every Tuesday at 6 p.m. from March through October in Salt's parking lot with a run through the woods and finish off with a free pint of beer at Salt, courtesy of Boyle.

"It's great, our members are dropping weight, loving it and are incredibly motivational and inspirational people," Davidson said. "They all want to better themselves."

The Salt Shakers also like to promote the trail system and are a member of the NJ/NY Trail conference. To get people to the trail, the group built a quarter of mile trail head that goes to trail from Salt's parking lot. The new section is called the "Salt Spur." Anyone wishing to use the trail can park at Salt for free.

"There are maps in the restaurant too," Davidson said. "This encourages people to come up and hike the 160 mile trail right in our backyard."

Davidson noted that not all members can run the trail but can still be involved. The Salt Movers has recently been added which includes those who wish to walk through the trail.

The running group participates in a number of races throughout the year, that benefit the Sussex County Breast Cancer Foundation (friend2friendscwf.org), which encourages women to get mammograms. Reach the Beach is the groups next upcoming relay race where 12 members from Salt and other running groups will run a total of 200 miles in two days from Mountain Creek in Vernon all the way to Seaside Heights.

Anyone interested in joining the Salt Shakers or Salt Movers just needs to show up any Tuesday night. For more information call Davidson at 973-476-6051 or visit the Salt Shaker Facebook page. Salt Gastropub is located at 109 US Highway 206, Stanhope.