{"id":89303,"date":"2021-10-08T16:14:35","date_gmt":"2021-10-08T21:14:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/?p=89303"},"modified":"2021-10-08T16:14:35","modified_gmt":"2021-10-08T21:14:35","slug":"delta-state-student-merritt-burgin-successfully-thru-hikes-appalachian-trail","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deltastate.edu\/news-and-events\/2021\/10\/delta-state-student-merritt-burgin-successfully-thru-hikes-appalachian-trail\/","title":{"rendered":"Delta State student Merritt Burgin successfully thru-hikes Appalachian Trail"},"content":{"rendered":"[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” column_margin=”default” column_direction=”default” column_direction_tablet=”default” column_direction_phone=”default” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” row_border_radius=”none” row_border_radius_applies=”bg” overlay_strength=”0.3″ gradient_direction=”left_to_right” shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_tablet=”inherit” column_padding_phone=”inherit” column_padding_position=”all” column_element_spacing=”default” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” column_link_target=”_self” gradient_direction=”left_to_right” overlay_strength=”0.3″ width=”1\/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” bg_image_animation=”none” border_type=”simple” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid”][vc_column_text]CLEVELAND, Miss.\u2014<\/strong>Each year, only a quarter of the roughly 3,000 individuals who attempt to thru-hike the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail (A.T.) successfully complete the mammoth undertaking in one trip. Delta State University Outdoor Recreation Administration student Merritt Burgin is now among that special group of hikers.<\/p>\n

Burgin set off on the A.T. earlier this year with DSU alums Raina Stiffler Burgin \u201912, \u201819, Marshall Burgin \u201915 and Olivia Dick \u201920. Burgin was the first from the group to successfully complete the trail on Sept. 17, 2021. He celebrated the moment by posing for a photo at the iconic sign on top of Mount Katadhin at Baxter Peak, the highest point in Maine, while sporting his DSU Outdoor Program backpacking shirt.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo rain, no pain, no Maine. You hear that a lot on trail. I feel like that sentiment is something I will always carry in life. In order to achieve the things you hope to, you must embrace it all, both good and bad. The trail taught us all that, day after day until the very end. Nothing worth having is easy,\u201d said Burgin as he reflected on the accomplishment.<\/p>\n

Dr. Todd Davis, assistant professor and director of Delta State\u2019s Outdoor Recreation Program, said the program is thrilled to have its first thru-hiker.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe College of Education and Human Sciences is super proud of Merritt,\u201d said Davis. \u201cTo take on the pinnacle of the outdoor wilderness adventure which is attempting to finish the Appalachian Trail in one shot is extremely arduous. There are a lot of people who do section hikes, but for him to go and do a thru-hike makes us all extremely proud.\u201d<\/p>\n

Burgin credits his Delta State\u2019s Outdoor Recreation classes for preparing him to conquer the task. The Outdoor Recreation Education Program (OREP), the state\u2019s first program of its kind, is an academic\/experiential learning program for outdoor recreation adventure activities.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the most important lesson I took on trail from my time with the Outdoor Rec program was to always have a Plan B,\u201d he said. \u201cWhile spending months walking through the wilderness, things change daily: trail conditions, weather, injuries and the like. These things will change how much and far you can hike. I was changing plans on a weekly basis to keep myself safe and healthy out there.\u201d<\/p>\n

Davis said the program is designed to cultivate leadership and survival skills.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe teach courses in risk management and risk evaluation, and in that we develop leaders who lead people as well as themselves. Merritt is an example of this\u2014clearly everything translated really well for him to achieve this accomplishment.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re encouraging more people to be adventurous with their life because life is short,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n

To learn more about Delta State\u2019s Outdoor Recreation Education<\/a> Program, call (662) 846-4570, email tdavis@deltastate.edu<\/a> or visit www.deltastate.edu\/HPER<\/a><\/p>\n

More from Burgin on the trail:<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cOne night, the whole crew, Marshall, Raina, Olivia, and I with the dogs, slept on top of Grassy Ridge Bald in the Roan Highlands. It\u2019s the highest point we walked to while in those mountains I believe. It was the type of night you hike for. There was a single gigantic rain cloud off in the distance we watched roll past us through a distant valley during sunset. Then slowly after the sun set, you could see light after light turn on, some in the close woods, some in the distant valley. Little towns that did not exist in my view suddenly revealed themselves. That night was like being in a planetarium. The sky lit up with stars like you would not believe. Looking back on it, the sights were so magnificent that I forget how incredibly cold and windy it was at the top. One of our strings tying down the tent snapped! I don\u2019t know if I have ever worked as well without being able to see as I did in that moment. The next morning, we watched the sky slowly turn from purple to pink to orange and red as the sun lit up the morning. People often wonder why we would walk for months through the woods, and nights like that are exactly why.\u201d<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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The first bald mountain tops from the Roan Highlands.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Camping spot on top of Grassy Ridge Bald.<\/p><\/div>\n

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View of the sunrise from on top of Grassy Ridge Bald the next morning.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Burgin’s first view of Mount Katadhin, as seen from White Cap Mountain just before the 100 Mile Wilderness.<\/p><\/div>\n

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Burgin’s last hazy morning from the base of Mount Katadhin. “It was about 5:00 AM, and I was just starting my last day on trail.” he shared.<\/p><\/div>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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