Julie Sager completed Walsh’s Pyramid walking trail 20 times in a row

A Cairns endurance athlete has climbed the equivalent of two Mount Everest’s and then some when she climbed Walsh’s Pyramid 20 times this week.

Avid endurance athlete Julie Sager climbed the equivalent of two Mount Everest’s and then some when she climbed Walsh’s Pyramid 20 times, finishing at 1.30am on Sunday and breaking a world record.

Ms Sager, a marathon and endurance competitor, set herself the goal to climb Walsh’s Pyramid walking track in Gordonvale to raise funds for the FNQ Hospital Foundation and prepare herself for her next competitive event.

Ms Sager finished the 20 climbs in just over 90 hours.

“My legs are pretty swollen now and I’m exhausted but the support was absolutely incredible,” Ms Sager said.

“It was so emotional and I still am.”

Ms Sagar explained her passion for endurance and how it was taking her to different races around Australia.

“There’s races in Australia that include doing 200 miles in around 300 days,” Ms Sagar said.

“They have what they call the triple crown which is three 200 mile races, and if you do all three you get the crown which I did last year.”

She said she hoped to be the first person to complete the Triple Crown in Australia and North America.

Cairns ultra long distance runner Julie Sager has set herself the goal of climbing up and down Walsh's Pyramid 20 times in row, scaling more than the equivalent height of two Mt Everests. Julie Sager sets off for her 13th ascent of the Pyramid south of Gordonvale. Picture: Brendan Radke

Last year, Mrs Sager completed 10 laps of the Pyramid, but said she felt it wasn’t enough. This year, she teamed up with The Hospital Foundation to raise funds for the charity.
“People have told me “Oh you’re the perfect someone for a fundraising thing,” so I rang Glenys (from the charity) who I’ve know for a long time, and asked if she wanted to do something,” she said.

Mrs Sager began the mammoth trek on Wednesday morning and by Friday afternoon, had completed 13 out of 20 laps.

“As soon as I got 11 done, I felt better. I’ve got less to do now than I ever had,” she said.

Cairns ultra long distance runner Julie Sager has set herself the goal of climbing up and down Walsh's Pyramid 20 times in row, scaling more than the equivalent height of two Mt Everests. Julie Sager sets off for her 13th ascent of the Pyramid south of Gordonvale. Picture: Brendan Radke

Ms Sager said she was less challenged by the distance than the climb.
“It’s not the distance at all, it’s just the climbing. It’s not a smooth trail anymore. It’s all between the roots have been washed out,” she said.
On her fundraising website, Mrs Sager had encouraged others to join her on the trek while her husband, Bob, had set up a support camp at the base of the pyramid.

“Even when people would tell me “oh, only two more laps to go,” it was the extreme mental challenge of realising that was about eight hours of climbing.”

“It takes so much concentration to complete a hike like this, so I would sleep for an hour or two at the bottom at night before continuing.

“With the mist at night too, at times I couldn’t see more than a metre in front.”

At the end of the 90 hour expedition, Ms Sagar saw her friends and family set up an arch for her to run through.

“I still can’t believe how beautiful that moment was, but safe to say I’ll never have to do it again.”

To donate to Ms Sagar’s pyramid climb, visit The Hospital Foundation website.

Originally published as Julie Sager completed Walsh’s Pyramid walking trail 20 times in a row