Irreverent Warriors Silkies Hike - Cincinnati 2026

Irreverent Warriors is a veterans’ nonprofit that runs Silkies Hikes — group ruck-style hikes held in dozens of US cities, named for the short military-issue PT shorts participants wear. A hike covers 4 to 10 miles at a pace of 2 to 3 miles per hour with frequent stops, and many hikers carry a weighted ruck. The organizer is explicit that this is not an athletic event: the purpose is to break isolation among veterans through humor and camaraderie, as part of its suicide prevention mission.

The Cincinnati hike is held on Saturday 10 October 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m. and finishing around 5:00 p.m., with check-in from 8:00 a.m. Note that although the organizer markets it as Cincinnati, the start point is across the Ohio River at Newport on the Levee in Newport, Kentucky — a different state, worth knowing if you are planning travel or parking.

Silkies Hikes are for veterans, active duty, National Guard and reservists only; the organizer’s event page states that minors, civilian hikers, pets and strollers are not permitted, with documented service animals the only exception. All participants must e-sign a waiver incorporating the organization’s Code of Conduct. Registration runs on DonorDrive, closing at noon on the day of the hike; the fee is shown at checkout, and anyone who cannot afford it can request a free promo code from . The local coordinator is Stephanie Dodd at .