central australia

No more climbing on 'The Rock'

@JudyEv (326269)

Rockingham, Australia

July 12, 2019 7:08am CST

I’ve written about our trip in 2018 to Uluru or Ayres Rock in Central Australia. If you want to read more about that trip, you can use the search button and type in ‘uluru’. Although it is possible to climb Uluru, the traditional owners prefer that the rock isn’t climbed. It is a sacred place to them. Now, with the news that climbing will be banned in October 2019, dozens of tourists are flocking to the rock to climb it before the ban takes place. Numbers of visitors to the world heritage listed site are up 20% on the previous financial year. Direct air flights from Darwin and Adelaide to Ayers Rock since April have also allowed easier access to the site. Since the 1950s, there have been 37 confirmed deaths. Accommodation facilities have been booked out and people are camping illegally wherever they can find a space. The climb will close on 26 October, exactly 34 years since Uluru was given back to the traditional owners.

25 people like this

20 responses

@LadyDuck (459538)

• Switzerland

12 Jul 19

If it is sacred to them, the ban makes sense. Too many tourists are destroying beautiful places around the world.

4 people like this

@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 19

Yes, we can still enjoy it's beauty and spiritual being without climbing on it.

4 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

That's true. In one way it's nice to share such natural attractions but then it becomes too popular and problems develop.

3 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

@valmnz Exactly. Why climb all over it?

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (307540)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

12 Jul 19

I didn't know people climbed it. If it's a sacred site, it should be banned from climbing.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (307540)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

14 Jul 19

@JudyEv I'm glad it is.

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

I think so too. The views of the indigenous people were never considered once. Gradually that is changing now.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

12 Jul 19

I thought that climbing was already forbidden. I am glad that this is being put into place to protect it.

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@valmnz (17099)

• New Zealand

13 Jul 19

@JudyEv that is good to hear.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

@valmnz Why people feel the need to climb all over it is beyond me.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

At one time they were going to stop once the percentage dropped to x (some figure I can't remember) but now they've set a date on it.

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39515)

• United States

12 Jul 19

i'm glad to hear that such's gonna be closed to the public. wonderin' why such aint gonna happen 'til late october?? i've 'lways felt strongly fer the native peoples to've their lands 'n sacred places returned. we do battle here'n new mexico quite oft fer such. tryin' to keep the oil/minin' 'ndustries out, not so much visitors.

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crazyhorseladycx

@crazyhorseladycx (39515)

• United States

13 Jul 19

@JudyEv yes ma'am, that's a huge chunk 'f troubles here'n the u.s. 'f course, some 'f the tribes 've cashed'n, too. encouragin' such'n 'xchange fer $$ to fill there greed. 'tis jest awful coz then they claim fowl play.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

@crazyhorseladycx I'm sure our countries have similar problems. The indigenous here often can't agree among themselves so that makes any negotiations very difficult.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

Indigenous groups have a lot of trouble trying to keep their sacred sites out of the hands of others - or even just their lands.

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@Bensen32 (27529)

• United States

12 Jul 19

That is kind of sad they are closing it but I can understand if it is an issue of nature being destroyed by the visitors.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

People can still visit and there is just as much pleasure in that. They don't need to climb it to enjoy it.

1 person likes this

@Bensen32 (27529)

• United States

13 Jul 19

@JudyEv Oh ok I miss understood, I thought they were closing it all together and you couldn't even get to see it.

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@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul 19

@Bensen32 I think it brings in too many tourist dollars to ever be closed completely.

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@Sojourn (13836)

• India

12 Jul 19

I guess this is a right move by the Australian government. Will this cause the illegal hiking to stop?

3 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

Once the ban comes in, no-one will be able to climb it.

2 people like this

@snowy22315 (170699)

• United States

12 Jul 19

I didn't know climbers were allowed on it in the first place.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

They've been climbing it for years. At one point they put in the pegs to try to prevent accidents.

2 people like this

@rebelann (111306)

• El Paso, Texas

13 Jul 19

I'm glad the ban will be in place, at least some indigenous people will get to keep their holy lands. I wish they'd do the same here for the Native Americans who lost so much.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

The colonists did some terrible things in the name of settlement.

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@Tampa_girl7 (49161)

• United States

12 Jul 19

It looks like an incredibly tough climb.

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@Tampa_girl7 (49161)

• United States

13 Jul 19

@JudyEv that's sad.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

There have been a few who've had heart attacks trying to climb it.

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@DianneN (247219)

• United States

12 Jul 19

That's wise to close it. Many tourist attractions around the world have been banned to protect the sites.

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@DianneN (247219)

• United States

13 Jul 19

@JudyEv Many are careless and don’t value what is before their eyes.

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@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

Sometimes, it seems there are just too many people in the world

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@JohnRoberts (109857)

• Los Angeles, California

12 Jul 19

I doubt I would have climbed it. The site is a pain to get to.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

It is indeed. Lots of groups run tours out to it now. We thought it was pretty close to Alice Springs but it's 500kms between the two!

2 people like this

@Hannihar (129600)

• Israel

27 Sep 19

@JudyEv I can see so many people wanting to climb it before it is banned.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 19

Yes, for a while there was a great rush of people wanting to climb it.

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@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

29 Sep 19

@Hannihar Yes, that's right.

1 person likes this

@Hannihar (129600)

• Israel

29 Sep 19

@JudyEv Before they banned it, right?

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

12 Jul 19

People are taking advantage of the time to climb that rock. Maybe it’s their faith that let them do this.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

I doubt it means much to anyone except the aborigines and they don't want to climb it.

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@JustBhem (70555)

• Davao, Philippines

13 Jul 19

@JudyEv Like what? A success?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul 19

@JustBhem I'm not sure what you mean. I guess non-aborigines think they've done something wonderful if they manage to climb the rock. It isn't an easy climb.

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@DocAndersen (54407)

• United States

12 Jul 19

I remember going there, although we didn't climb it (15 years ago). Amazing great picture by the by!

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@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

It's pretty special, isn't it? Did you walk round the base? I was going to add a photo but adding photos doesn't seem to be on the agenda this morning. I couldn't add one to a new post either

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@kareng (55302)

• United States

13 Jul 19

I wonder how many will be arrested after the deadline date for no climbing?

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@kareng (55302)

• United States

14 Jul 19

@JudyEv I'm sure there will be a rebel or two.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul 19

It will be interesting to see if people still try to climb it.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Jul 19

@kareng Because of the numbers, they are thinking of closing the path off early and they are going to employ more rangers to enforce the climbing ban.

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@hereandthere (45651)

• Philippines

13 Jul 19

i'm glad it's going to stop. in some places, tourists/pilgrims even take pieces home as souvenirs. also, i hope the illegal camping and increasing influx until october won't leave the rock and surrounding areas ruined.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul 19

In Knock in Ireland they had to fence off an old stone building as people kept taking rocks from it. They are clamping down on the illegal camping thank goodness

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@sueznewz2 (10409)

• Alicante, Spain

5 Aug 19

people can still enjoy it..just by looking at pictures...lol... i'm glad you enjoyed it and had that experience...

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@sueznewz2 (10409)

• Alicante, Spain

7 Aug 19

me too...lol

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

7 Aug 19

I don't really see any need why people need to climb it. Just seeing it is enough - at least for me.

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@Marilynda1225 (80018)

• United States

12 Jul 19

Why is it that when it is said that you can't do something after such and such a date then it becomes more popular? Guess it's human nature.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

13 Jul 19

I'd like to know that too. As you say, I guess it's just human nature - wanting what we can't have!

@moffittjc (118625)

• Gainesville, Florida

13 Jul 19

Well, that is good information to know! I actually never knew that people could climb the rock. I always thought it was not allowed. But then again, I really know nothing about Uluru. Probably the extent of my knowledge is from reading anything you have posted about it!

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@moffittjc (118625)

• Gainesville, Florida

14 Jul 19

@JudyEv Judy, all I know about Australia I learned from you and Crocodile Dundee! And Crocodile Dundee didn't really teach me anything. So please, keep educating me!

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@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul 19

In that case, the extent of your knowledge probably isn't very great - but you said that yourself, didn't you? :)

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@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

15 Jul 19

@moffittjc No problem. I will be your Aussie guru!

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@responsiveme (22926)

• India

13 Jul 19

If it is sacred then I understand why tourists are not welcome. It looks magnificent .

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@JudyEv (326269)

• Rockingham, Australia

14 Jul 19

I'm sure you've seen other photos of it but I'll put one here.

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@responsiveme (22926)

• India

18 Jul 19

@JudyEv magnificent

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