East Sussex veterans launch perilous winter Himalayan expedition
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British Army veterans Josh Bruton and Jacob Cottrell are about to depart the UK for Kathmandu, Nepal, to launch a gruelling, self-funded mountaineering expedition in the Himalayas. Operating deep into the dangerous winter season, the duo aims to scale two consecutive 6,000-metre giants to raise vital funds for the East Sussex Veterans Hub (ESVH) in Hastings.
Bruton and Cottrell, who served with the Queen’s Royal Hussars until last year, fly out on 13 November before catching a high-altitude flight to the notorious airstrip of Lukla. From there, they will immediately embark on a brutal 80 km trek through the rugged Khumbu region toward Everest Base Camp. Their ultimate targets are two back-to-back alpine titans: the highly technical rock ridges of Lobuche East (6,119m) and the treacherous glacier headwalls of Island Peak (6,189m).
The climbers self-fund the entire expedition, ensuring 100% of public donations go directly to the East Sussex Veterans Hub. The funds raised will help convert office space into flats at the ESVH centre, dedicated to homeless ex-service personnel.
Climbing during the Himalayan winter introduces severe environmental hazards. The veterans will face plummeting temperatures down to -30°C, heavy high-altitude snowpack, and active landslide zones. Relying on the expert tracking skills of indigenous Nepalese guides, the duo will also have emergency helicopter rescue contingencies in place.
This extreme undertaking follows a series of remarkable endurance feats by the pair. Last year, Josh completed a solo cycling trip across the United States. Immediately after returning, he partnered with Jacob to complete a half-marathon while carrying a full-length tree log.
"Tackling these peaks requires immense cardiovascular endurance, intense technical rope work, and the mental resilience to survive 14-hour climbing days in brutal conditions," says an expedition representative. "But the driving force is keeping our fellow veterans off the streets of East Sussex and giving them a safe place to call home."
The official social media fundraising campaign launches this week, and a YouTube link is at https://youtube.com/@big.bruton?si=paswJNXiZnHBmEoC