Irreverent Warriors Silkies Hike - Virginia Beach 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 Virginia Beach hike is held on Saturday 3 October 2026, starting at 9:00 a.m. from the Virginia Aquarium overflow lot and finishing around 5:00 p.m. Check-in runs from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. The organizer does not publish a full street address for the start point. This is one of the strongest military catchments on the calendar, with Naval Station Norfolk and JEB Little Creek nearby.

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 David Cram at .