Irreverent Warriors Silkies Hike - Temple 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. The organizer frames the hike around a symbolic 22 kilometres, covering 4 to 10 miles at a pace of 2 to 3 miles per hour with frequent stops, and states plainly that this is not an athletic event. 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 Temple hike is held on Saturday 14 November 2026, starting at 10:00 a.m. from North 1st Street and finishing around 6:00 p.m. Check-in runs from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Temple sits close to Fort Cavazos, giving this one a strong military catchment.

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 this chapter states that financial assistance is available for anyone who needs it. The local coordinator is Stephen Wirth at .