Brink Shelter to Rutherford Shelter

Day Three
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Brink Shelter to Rutherford Shelter
14 miles

 

We arose and quickly got on our way, as we were planning to hike about three miles then have breakfast at Gyp’s Tavern or Sunrise Appalachian Trail Deli in Branchville.  They are supposed to be right on the trail.  When we got to the deli there was a sign on the door saying it was temporarily closed and recommended we go to Gyp's Tavern right down the road.  Our hiker’s companion said Gyp's opened at 9:00 a.m., and we would be just in time.  HOWEVER, when we got there, there was not a soul to be seen.  They were not opened.  We went next door to a Sport’s Shop and asked them, they said Gyp’s opened at 11:00.  We quickly surveyed the place and found the only thing they had to offer us was a soda, which we took advantage of, but that’s not breakfast.  We asked about other restaurants and they said there was one about a mile the other direction.  We asked about a local taxi service (not wanting to walk an extra two miles) and were told that the closest taxi charges $40 just to come here.  Oh well, we sat on a rock outside and ate a Clif Bar along with our soda.  What a disappointment.  But this is not the only time we will be disappointed on this trip, expecting a deli and the deli being closed. 

Gyp's Tavern

Gyp's Tavern

We filled our water bottle from their restroom and got back on the trail.

 

 

We saw a small card on a tree advertising a new hostel in the area.  I took a picture of it just in case we needed it.  It said he/she was a former thru-hiker and would pick up at High Point State Park.  We later tried to call the number to see if we could get a ride from Unionville and did not get an answer. 

As we climbed to the top of Sunrise Mountain, we suddenly found ourselves on the top looking at a pavilion.  It seemed so out of place from this side, but we found out that there was a parking lot not too far from it on the other side.  Several men loitered around the shelter, looking at the view.  I remembered reading in Jennifer Pharr Davis's book, "Becoming Odyssa" that she had come upon a hanging victim on Sunrise Mountain at a pavilion and realized that this was the very location. 

Sunrise Mountain Pavilion

View from Sunrise Mountain

 

At Mashipacong Shelter we again found water in a 5-gallon jug.  Luckily we didn’t need any.  We trudged on, planning to stay at Rutherford Shelter.  Finding that it was .4 off the trail, we set up a stealth camp instead.  In fact, we didn’t stay in a single shelter this whole trip.