Basic Challenge - The Goonies - Pittsburgh, PA - 5/17/2025
May 17th, 2025 @ 1:00pm EST
GORUCK BASIC CHALLENGE
NOT TOO LIGHT, NOT TOO TOUGH
- 4-5 Hours - Our kind of fun with rucks on
- Always a Team Event, Never a Race
- Led by current and former Special Forces
The GORUCK Challenge is our flagship and original team building event - we’ve led over 10,000 since 2010. At your Basic, you’ll have some team building fun organized by your Cadre. You will stay with your class from start to finish, you’ll ruck some miles and really get to know the other participants as you become a team. This Basic Challenge is more rigorous than the Light, but still an introduction to our way of life and accessible to all who want to join a tight-knit community of ruckers all over the world and have fun doing it. We recommend some rucksack training prior — all who do are encouraged to show up. If the weight gets too heavy, your team is there to help.
When you successfully complete the Challenge, your Cadre will hand you a cold beer and a patch that will never be for sale.
THE GOONIES BASIC: THE INFERNO TREK
Join us for an epic GORUCK adventure inspired by The Goonies! Get ready to channel your inner Mikey, Brand, and the rest of the Goonies crew as you embark on a thrilling 3-part challenge that will push your limits in search of the ultimate treasure – the HTB Goonies patch!Only those who embody the spirit of The Goonies and complete all three events will claim the legendary HTB Goonies patch – a symbol of grit, friendship, and never giving up!
WHAT TO BRING - REQUIRED
- A rucksack (Rucker recommended) - must have reflectivity
- Ruck Plate (or equivalent) in your rucksack = to your weight requirement
- If you weigh >150 lbs = 30 lb. Ruck Plate
- If you weigh < 150 lbs = 20 lb. Ruck Plate
- Kids = water weight, books, etc.
- Water/Hydration. 1L minimum required. Hydration Bladder and a Nalgene bottle recommended.
- Any medication you might need
- Photo ID
- Smiles
RECOMMENDED (BUT NOT REQUIRED) ITEMS
- Gloves (1 pair) Not medical gloves, working gloves
- Extra layers of clothing. Think: merino wool socks and a shell. Pay close attention to the weather — if it’s gonna be cold, make sure you have a windbreaker
- Dry Bag (or equivalent, such as a contractor bag) for keeping everything in your ruck dry.
- A full change of clothes and shoes/flip-flops for after the event. Apres-Ruck is much nicer in flip-flops
- Supportive footwear. GORUCK recommended because it’s the best for people who carry weight and live on their feet.
- Food, snacks, electrolytes as desired
- As a class, you need one (1) 25 lb. class weight and one American Flag. If you’re new to GORUCK, don’t sweat it. If you’ve done an event or ten, organize with your class — it must be in compliance with Special Forces Rule #1: Always Look Cool
Cadre Kevin
Raised in Texas, Kevin is a Green Beret with over 20 years of service in the United States Army. Kevin served on multiple combat deployments and has led Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Southeast Asia. Out of service and living in the Pacific Northwest, Kevin enjoys spending time and keeping active with family and friends. Kevin continues to serve the military community through non-profit and private sector roles, assisting them in building better post-military lives.
Use the chat feature on the Sandlot platform to coordinate any details or training tips with your Cadre and the rest of the awesome folks that signed up. To join the chat complete the steps below:
- Click the link below
- Join the fistbump
- Create your Sandlot profile
- Click the chat button
CADRE DAN
Cadre Dan….Jason McCarthy handed Dan his first GR1 in February of 2011 full of bricks wrapped in a towel. Since then Dan has been pounding pavement and building better Americans as Cadre for GORUCK. Every once in a while, he comes up with a half decent idea that GORUCK uses to keep Dan happy. Fueled by Copenhagen, Coffee and pure aggression (staples in 3rd SFG) Dan loves storytime during events and doing anything outside.