road to everest
phase 1 - COTOPAXI & CAYAMBE PEAKS
Cotopaxi | Ecuador | 19,347 ftCayambe | Ecuador | 18,996 ft
Fundraising Goal: $30,000
Jan - Feb 2027
Reaching 19,347 feet above Ecuador, Cotopaxi is one of the world’s highest active volcanoes and an iconic mountaineering objective in the Andes. Its steep, glaciated slopes provide a demanding test of altitude, endurance, and technical climbing skills.
Topping out at 18,996 feet in the Ecuadorian Andes, Cayambe is a massive glaciated volcano and the third-highest peak in Ecuador. Its glaciers, crevasses, steep terrain, and high altitude make it an ideal proving ground for developing technical mountaineering skills and gaining experience above 18,000 feet.
These summits will happen back-to-back during the same trip.
For Summit of Second Chances, Cotopaxi and Cayambe are critical steps towards building the skills, confidence, and high-altitude experience required for the next phase: Manaslu.
phase 2 - manaslu
Nepal | 26,781 ftFundraising Goal: $50,000
Sept 3 - Oct 15, 2027
Standing at 26,781 feet in the Nepalese Himalayas, Manaslu is the eighth-highest mountain in the world and my first planned 8,000-meter peak. Its extreme altitude, technical terrain, unpredictable weather, and prolonged exposure will provide critical experience operating in the environment found on the world's highest mountains.
Manaslu will be the final qualifying climb — testing everything I've learned before taking on the ultimate objective: Mount Everest.
phase 3 - mount everest - the ultimate objective
Nepal | 29,032 ftFundraising Goal: $100,000
Summit: Spring 2028
Standing at 29,032 feet, Mount Everest is the highest point on Earth—and the ultimate objective of Summit of Second Chances.
Reaching its summit demands years of preparation, high-altitude experience, physical endurance, mental resilience, and the ability to keep moving forward when every step becomes a fight.
In spring 2028, Everest will represent more than a summit—it will be the culmination of a journey built on survival, purpose, and the belief that our hardest chapter does not have to be our last.
Mount Everest stands 29,032 feet above sea level, the highest point on Earth. Reaching its summit safely takes roughly two years of preparation before a single step is taken above Base Camp.
the climb
YEAR ONE: FOUNDATION (2026-2027)
Full cardiology clearance and ongoing medical monitoring.
Mountaineering gear & equipment procurement.
Technical mountaineering courses
Early altitude exposure & preparation climbs. (3x high-altitude climbs)
YEAR TWO: ALTITUDE & ASCENT (2028)
Supplemental-oxygen system training & final gear dial-in
Final medical clearance
Expedition departure for the spring 2028 Everest climbing window.
expedition requirements
Every stage of the Summit of Second Chances journey requires extensive preparation beyond the climb itself. Each expedition requires medical and cardiology clearances, comprehensive insurance, specialized technical climbing gear and equipment, and the necessary climbing permits and fees. These requirements are essential to ensuring each mountain is approached safely, responsibly, and with the preparation necessary to continue progressing toward Mount Everest.
Contribution Information
Contributions supporting expedition expenses—including training, equipment, travel, and climbing costs—are gifts or sponsorships supporting Douglas Brock and are generally not tax-deductible. Whether you're a company looking to align your brand with a story of resilience, or an individual who wants to be part of something bigger than a donation — I’d love to talk.
SUMMIT OF SECOND CHANCES
Climbing for those still fighting.
Thank you for considering standing with me on this journey. Whatever you're able to give — time, dollars, an introduction, a shout-out — it becomes part of the story I'll get to tell for every person still fighting a battle no one else can see.
Let's climb!
Douglas Brock
24+ Year Combat Veteran • Heart-Failure Survivor • Entrepreneur • Endurance Athlete
IG: @douglas_brock
