Frozen Chosin Challenge

09/04/2026

AT WHAT AGE CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THE FCC CHALLENGE?
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The minimum age to participate is 15 years old.
Participants ages 15–17 must be registered and hike/ruck with a parent, guardian, or family member who is 18+.
Important: ❗️Participants under 18 must always remain with their parent/guardian while on the route.
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Ready to take on the FCC Challenge?
Ruck

08/31/2026

PACK LIGHT. GO FAR.
“Backpacking is the art of knowing what not to take.” – Sheridan Anderson
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When you’re on the trail, every ounce counts. Backpacking isn’t about carrying the world on your back, t’s about knowing what you need, leaving the rest behind, and moving forward.
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Pack smart. Travel light. Enjoy the journey.
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Visit the link in our bio for more tips on what to pack for your FCC Challenge!
Adventure

08/31/2026

What is the maximum time allowed to complete the Challenge?
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Each course has a specific cutoff time:
Frozen Chosin and Devil Dog Challenge: Off the route by 3:00 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6
Warrior Challenge Course: Off the route by 2:00 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 6
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Know your cutoff, plan your pace, and train accordingly.
Visit the link in our bio for more Challenge details and FAQs!

08/26/2026

100 DAYS TO GO!

The countdown is officially on! The FCC Challenge is just 100 days away, which means now is the perfect time to start preparing your body, building your endurance, and staying consistent.

Whether you’re tackling 40 miles, 17 miles, or 4 miles - every mile starts with preparation.

Here are a few ways to get ready:
✅ Gradually increase your distance
✅ Strengthen your legs and core
✅ Practice proper hydration and nutrition
✅ Prioritize recovery and listen to your body

100 days. Every step counts. The journey starts long before the first mile. Are you ready? 🚶‍♀️🏃‍♂️🔥
Visit the link below for steps on how to prepare for the FCC Challenge!
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/conditioning-backpacking.html

07/01/2026

Join us for the 2026 Frozen Chosin Challenge as we pay tribute to the brave service members who endured the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, 1950.

📅 December 4–6, 2026
📍 St. Francois Mountains, Missouri

This is more than a hike - it’s a mission built on teamwork, resilience, and camaraderie. Participants compete in teams, because no one completes the mission alone. Just as those who fought at Chosin relied on one another, you’ll rely on your teammates to push forward and finish together.

Choose your mission:
🥾 Chosin Challenge – 40 miles | 3 days | 2 river crossings
🥾 Devil Dog Challenge – 17 miles | 2 days | 2 river crossings
🥾 Warrior Course – 4-mile accessible trail

🇺🇸 3 Days. 3 Courses. 1 Mission.
No Forgotten Heroes. No Forgotten Wars.

Gather your team. Accept the challenge. Honor their legacy. Link in bio.

Visit our website to honor and remember the sacrifices of Korean War veterans. Discover the memorial, upcoming events, and ways to contribute.

06/28/2026

Spots are limited! We allow only a limited number of participants for each event. This ensures the trails and environment are cared for and preserved for future generations.
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“The idea of wilderness needs no defense; it only needs defenders.” - Edward Abbey
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The Frozen Chosin Challenge is coming back to Missouri, December 4-6, 2026 - and this year, the cold is waiting for you and your team.
Grab your hiking partners, training team, coworkers, or friends and take on an unforgettable winter trekking challenge together.

❄️ Extreme winter conditions
🥾 Rugged terrain
🔥 Team energy
💪 A challenge worth remembering

Because the best adventures are the ones you survive together.
Limited registration spots available - sign your team up now.

06/15/2026

“I have been honored to be a part of the Korean War Memorial Committee for over three
years and in that time the idea of recognizing those who fought so gallantly in the battle of the Chosin Reservoir is something that quite frankly is long overdue. Those brave warriors story needs to be heard for generations to come and events like the Frozen Chosin Challenge put a spotlight on their exploits. While our participants do not face the dire weather conditions those brave men faced, the participants will experience a taste of what it had to be like. I would encourage you and your friends to consider putting together a team and accepting the challenge; while supporting a great cause at the same time.”

Dave Griffith
Missouri State Representative, 60th District

06/03/2026

This week’s recommended reading:
📚 O’Donnell, Patrick K., Give Me Tomorrow:
The Korean War’s Greatest Untold Story
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This book brings a deeply human perspective to the Korean War through firsthand accounts and survivor stories from the Chosin Reservoir Campaign. Patrick O’Donnell captures what it was like on the ground, where extreme cold, exhaustion, and constant combat tested every ounce of endurance and leadership.
What makes this book stand out is its focus on the men themselves. Their decisions, their fear, their courage, and the bonds they formed under pressure that most of us can hardly imagine.
It is intense, personal, and rooted in real voices from the battlefield.
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If you want to understand the human side of Chosin and the weight our troops carried, this is a powerful place to start.

06/01/2026

In light of celebrating Memorial Day last week, we honor the faces and stories of the survivors known as the “Chosin Few.”

These men endured brutal winter conditions during the Battle of Chosin Reservoir in 1950. Temperatures dropped far below zero. Frostbite, exhaustion, hunger, and constant enemy attacks became part of daily survival. Many carried those memories for the rest of their lives.

Today, we remember not only their sacrifice, but their humanity.

This post features portraits and stories from survivors of the Chosin Reservoir Campaign shared by PBS American Experience.

Take a moment to reflect on their stories, their sacrifice, and the extraordinary resilience they carried through one of the harshest battles in military history.
🇺🇸 Honor the fallen
🇺🇸 Remember the survivors
🇺🇸 Preserve their legacy

05/27/2026

Cold. Exhausted. Outnumbered.
And still, they kept moving.

The men who fought at Chosin Reservoir faced brutal winter conditions, frozen gear, little sleep, and constant enemy pressure in the mountains of North Korea. Every step forward demanded grit, discipline, and trust in the people beside them.

They did not keep going because it was easy. They kept going because the mission and the men next to them mattered.

That spirit lives on through the Frozen Chosin Challenge.
Every mile logged. Every early morning workout. Every moment when quitting would be easier. It is a reminder that resilience is built one step at a time.

Train with purpose. Push a little farther. Honor those who endured far worse.

Who are you training with this week? Tag them below.