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 .
Irreverent Warriors is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that organizes Silkies Hikes — group ruck-style hikes held in dozens of US cities. A Silkies Hike is a non-competitive group walk, published by the organizer as covering between 4 and 10 miles at a pace of 2 to 3 miles per hour with frequent stops, framed around a symbolic 22-kilometer figure. Participants wear military-issue silkies, the short nylon PT shorts the organization is named for, typically with boots, and many carry a weighted ruck. Wearing them in public is deliberately conspicuous: the humor and visibility are the point, and the stated purpose is to break isolation among veterans through camaraderie as part of the organization’s suicide prevention mission. Hikes are for veterans, active duty, National Guard and reservists; the organizer’s event pages state that minors, civilian hikers, pets and strollers are not permitted on the hike itself, though civilians are welcome to volunteer, sponsor, donate or meet participants at route stops. All participants must e-sign a waiver incorporating the organization’s Code of Conduct. Registration runs on DonorDrive, and any hiker who cannot afford the fee can request a free promo code from the organizer.
