Irreverent Warriors Silkies Hike - Crystal Coast 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, and the organizer states plainly on this event’s page that this is not an athletic event, with frequent stops for fellowship along the way. Many hikers carry a weighted ruck. The purpose is to break isolation among veterans through humor and camaraderie, as part of the organization’s suicide prevention mission.

The Crystal Coast hike is held on Saturday 17 October 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m. from Golfin Dolphin Drive in Cape Carteret, North Carolina, and finishing around 4:00 p.m. Check-in runs from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The location sits between Camp Lejeune and MCAS Cherry Point, giving it one of the strongest military catchments on the calendar.

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 Mike Burton at .