Army Vet Hikes PCT for Fallen Comrade

It's April 21st. You're listening to Edinburgh News today, AI-powered local news. I'm Cory

with the story. Army Sergeant Brian Hughes, a 47-year-old reservist from Livingston, is

grinding through a brutal 2,650-mile hike. Along the Pacific Crest Trail, this beast stretches

from the Mexican border to Canada, hitting deserts, snowy peaks, and nonstop strain. He's

doing it all to honor a fallen comrade and fund combat stress, the veteran's mental

health charity. Brian's drive kicked in hard after his army buddy took his own life last

year, that loss flipped the switch. He's out there turning grief into grit, mile after

punishing mile. With over 22 years in the regular army and reserves, Brian's no rookie.

He's logged tours in Northern Ireland, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan. Back home,

he's a dog walker, but his real prep came from conquering the West Highland Way toward

Momblanc and Scottish Monroe's. He kicked off March 23rd and's already crushed nearly 500

miles in this five-month saga. Next up, he's eyeing Mount Whitney, the highest peak in

the continental U.S., plus a wild 24-hour endurance push to max out his daily. Distance.

Brian's tracking it all on YouTube, chasing 2,650 pounds, one per mile, to aid vets battling

invisible scars. Every step echoes support for those silent fights, proving one man's

trek can spark real change.