Ayers Rock.
 

Can you still climb up onto AYERS ROCK...????? :)

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Only if you want to deeply offend the Anangu people who are the traditional land owners of Uluru.
It is a very sacred site to these people, and they prefer that you choose to respect their law and culture by not climbing it.

Unfortunately, many ignorant people with no respect still do climb Uluru, even though they are guests on Anangu land.

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

One of the more interesting stories I've read recently regarding Uluru/Ayer's Rock is what might be called the "curse of the stolen rocks". Basically, many tourists visiting the rock have picked up bits of the stone and taken them home as souvenirs. Months or years later, they encounter misfortune of one kind or another, and come to associate this with their theft of the material. They then return the stolen items by post to the authorities there, in the hope of ending the bad luck. There is a large file of letters at the local park headquarters, together with packages of rocks returned.

One press article here => http://www.eniar.org/news/lat.html

It may sound like an M.R. James' ghost story, but the evidence of people's distress is clearly there. Be warned... :eek:

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

You really don't need to climb Ayers Rock - the base tour is really enjoyable and interesting, (and you won't offend).

My husband still decided to opt for the climb, and he was rather dissappointed. He also thought that the climb down was quite dangerous. I however, really enjoyed myself.

Side tracking a bit - there is a wonderful evening dinner that you can arrange when you stay at Ayers Rock. Its called the 'sounds of silence' dinner, and has won a few tourist awards. Its a sort of silver service buffet in the middle of the sand dunes, followed by some time with a visiting astronomer armed with very powerful telescopes. I did this with hubbie on a Xmas night 2001, when there was no moon (i.e no light pollution). It was amazing. I'm not really into astronomy but I was absolutely gobsmacked to see the rings around Saturn so clearly.

Might not be everyones cup of tea, but I thought this was a superb and very unusual evening.

Netta

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

They pull quite a few people off the rock each week with heart attacks :scared:
I think its one of the less must see things in Aus. I know lots of people like it but i didn't :zzz: :zzz:
The olgas kata tjuta were better as they were fresh on the eye. :D

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

hiya,
its yonks since i was there....went a few steps up, but felt it too high/hard a climb. on walking round the base, i felt how spiritual it was, so i was glad i didnt do it!!

...and there were too many scary memorial plaques on the base of the climb for young people who had died after falling off it!!!

those night time supper thingies are excellent - about 15 of us had a similar supper (altho it wasnt quite as posh as silver service!!).....a deeply powerful experience to sit around a bbq, listening to traditional aboriginal music while our guide told us stories......makes the hairs on my arms tingle just thinking abuot it!!!

as to whether you can still climb it, im pretty sure you can :D

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

LOL We watched a traditional aboriginal music show that was that good the guy , we were told had been to LONDON to perform :D

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

So It's a yes then.. I know it's not quite PC but you can still do it then..??? :)

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

I know what you meen. I climbed it back in 1991, it's a long way to the top then you get to the top and you take 30 or so pictures for all the tourists up there.
I found the Olgas a lot more interesting, and their were less people. You don't realy think that they are that big untill you actualy walk through them and see the size of each rock face.

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Hi, I climbed it last year and it was well worth it, fantastic views. You've got to go early though (we went up at 6am) as they close it when the temperatures get too high. They also close the walk around the Olgas if it's too hot, so best to do that in the early morning aswell.

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

You can still climb Uluru, but go to the visitors centre first and find out why the Anangu tribe dont want you to climb. If you are going to trample on something they find sacred, then at least try to understand their reasons.

Another rather chilling thing about the climb (TWT mentioned it earlier) is the plaques to all those that have died while doing the climb.

The base walk is brilliant, and much more informative about the history of the area and the Anangu tribe. The climb is just that, you go up, look around, then come down. Its bloody steep too!! :eek:

Kata Juta (olgas) and Kings Canyon are fantastic though. Kings canyon was the best for me. You can climb down into a ravine, with a lagoon at the bottom that is so still it reflects everthing above it perfectly. I have a great picture that looks like I am perched on the edge of a crater, when in fact I am 2 foot from the water

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

If you want something to climb, do the Sydney Harbour Bridge climb => http://www.bridgeclimb.com/ ; it's reasonably challenging I believe.

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

NO THAT'S NOT ON MY LIST.. :)

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

The way i look at it is if you have anything in your life that is very spiritual and sacrid to you would you want hundreds of people walking over it taking bits of it home with them, i know i would not and personally i think people should be stopped from climbing it altogether,go and look at it at sunset and sunrise and you will be very happy with no reason to walk up It and offend people

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Yes, weather permitting.

We did it a couple of months back.

http://www.hartill.net/RedCentre/Pages/IMG_4621.html

Warning! - it's a very steep climb and the chains don't go all the way.

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Nothing to do with, "PC".
If you'd be happy with lots of people from a completely different culture wandering around your house all day, while at the same time badmouthing generations of your Grandparents, then yeah, you can still climb it.

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

What's the diference between that and going in and up the towers in YORK MINSTER.???

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Big difference!
The people who run York Minster don't constantly ask the visitors as a mark of respect, not to climb the towers!

And why do you insist on SHOUTING in all of your posts?

It's considered very rude on this forum.....

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Have to agree with you there Scossie if anyone on this planet asked me not to do something because it offends them i would not do it,the people who were here along time before we come over here have asked very politely for us not to climb it so i think we should respect there wishes and not climb it,but i would not force my view's on to you or anyone else and say no you cant climb it,and if the people of York want people to stop climbing York minster then they should say so (and i have never climbed York minster or any other religious or sacrid place)you are free to do as you please but please think of these people when you do do it and ask your self how you would feel if it was you in there place :)

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Using capital letters for the name of a place...not shouting...not rude..

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

If a person is fully aware that, by taking a certain action, or pursuit, they are going to offend someone and it is not really neccessary other than to boost their own ego, what does that say about the person who does it?

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Fine......
I think though, everyone on BE will know if you are using a name without you capitalising it!

We're not daft!!

You have used it on a lot of your other posts as well, when it doesn't relate to a name.

It is considered shouting, & it is considered rude in most cases.

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

must HAVE a FAULTY caps LOCK button THEN.......doh! :D


Hey have you been checking on my old post's....is that stalking me....??? :scared: :scared:

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Apparently.....:D

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

Unless they've changed this in the last 1.5 years .. you can. If the temp does not exceed 36 degrees that is .. ;) Then it is closed .. due to many "fatigue" deaths there ..

So don't take it for granted .. since it get's pretty warm there!

/Jørgen

Re: Ayers Rock.
 

I visited Ayers rock a couple of years ago, and decided not to climb it purely and simply because the traditional owners asked (and this is quite important... they ask and do not impose prohibition) that you don't climb. I remember being told something about their belief of the spirits of the people who have died there, and that they weren't in their homeland and as such were "lost souls" and this caused sadness to them. As they say in the National Park Visitor Guide...

"The 'climb' is not prohibited. But we prefer that, as a guest on Anangu land, you will choose to respect our law and culture by not climbing"

"We feel great sadness when a person is hurt or dies on our land"

To each his own, but for me I wouldn't feel comfortable blatantly going against other peoples beliefs. It's akin to going into a church and pissing in the font. In my opinion, anyway.

I did however do the base walk, which was enjoyable, but as with most rocks, hills and mountains, they lose some of their impact when up close, and for me Ayers Rock looked most spectacular at sunset from some considerable distance away from the roadside.

But Hey!, as I said, to each his own.

Jamie