GallantFew's Spirit of Darby is an inspiring annual Army Ranger veteran-led functional fitness event designed to improve overall health through fellowship at Cheyenne Mountain State Park in Colorado Springs, Co. This year The Wounded Healer Project returns as co-sponsor of the week.

Since 2023, Veterans from across the U.S. will join in the spirit of the founder of the WWII Rangers - BG William O. Darby - to experience healing through shared hardship. Led by GallantFew founder Karl Monger and Wounded Healer Project founder Tim Spalla (both 75th Ranger Regiment veterans), the Spirit of Darby includes camping at Cheyenne Mountain State Park, hiking the challenging Manitou Springs Incline, outdoor rock climbing, hiking to the summit of Pikes Peak, a Lakota Inipi (sweatlodge) ceremony, and evening education sessions.

The Spirit of Darby is open to all veterans who are able to participate in the daily fitness events. If you are feel your current financial situation might prevent you from participating, contact karl@gallantfew.org.

Confirmation of Spirit of Darby Waiver of Liability and Assumption of Risk Required at Registration.

William Darby was born on 8 February 1911 in Fort Smith, Arkansas. He fought in World War II, where he was killed in action in Italy. He was the only colonel posthumously promoted to brigadier general.

Darby led the famous “Darby’s Rangers”, which evolved into the United States Army Rangers. Darby was with the first United States troops sent to Northern Ireland after the United States' entry into World War II.

After Vietnam, Army Chief of Staff Creighton Abrams called on the "spirit of Darby" to improve the all volunteer force. Modern day Rangers were given their initial guidance with the publishing of the Abrams Charter. The charter is a set of guidelines that resurrected Darby's Rangers from WWII and established the 75th Ranger Regiment as the foundation for modern US Army Rangers. It also laid the groundwork for rebuilding the US Army post-Vietnam by literally leading the way to a force of greater lethality and professionalism.

GallantFew lives the Spirit of Darby by leading the way in creating a path to veteran holistic fitness. The GallantFew STAR (Self-Training and Response-Ability) models five areas of fitness: Emotional, Spiritual, Physical, Professional, and Social.

The annual Spirit of Darby event brings together all five fitness areas into one event-filled week, providing all participants hope and purpose.

Spirit of Darby - Pike's Peak 2026

Team Members