A strong immune system is the unsung hero of summit success. Even the most prepared climbers can be sidelined by something as small as a cold. From long-haul travel and disrupted sleep to the physiological stress of altitude, every factor in an expedition challenges your body’s defenses.

Staying Healthy on the Hill goes beyond the basics of nutrition and recovery to explore how immunity, stress management, and smart preparation intersect at high altitude. This live session is led by Dr. Paul Pottinger, a Seven Summits finisher, Everest summiteer, and Director of the Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine Clinic at the University of Washington, alongside Dr. Chris Sanford, a family and global health physician, author of Staying Healthy Abroad: A Global Traveler’s Guide, and veteran of fieldwork in Peru, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Together, they’ll share practical, science-backed strategies to help climbers stay strong and healthy when stress, travel, and altitude collide.