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Photo: paleontour
IF YOU’RE THE KIND of traveler that likes to defy danger and the wishes of the local indigenous people, then you’d better get your butt Down Under real soon. If the National Parks and the Anangu people of the Western Desert have their way, it will be illegal to climb this famous Australian landmark.
Photo: rplzzz
Less is still too much
As it is, there are heaps less people making the climb than before. In 1990, three-quarters of visitors reached the 340 meter peak, whereas today that ratio has shrunk to just one-third.
But that still translates to 250 people per day. 250 more than the Parks and the locals would like to see up there.
Besides the cultural sensitivity issues, it’s a dangerous climb. To further deter tourists from attempting it, details of more than 30 deaths await you at the base.
There are also sanitary reasons why you shouldn’t do it. A lack of toilets on the sacred rock mean that some hikers are damaging the local environment as their waste runs down into the waterholes around the rock.
For and against
Not only is the Federal Opposition party opposed, but Prime Minister Kevin Rudd rejects the proposal:
Obviously it’s a question of public safety and managing important parts of our natural landscape…I think it would be very sad if we got to a stage though where Australians and frankly our guests from abroad weren’t able to enjoy that experience…to climb it.
However, there is no shortage of folks who are fully behind the idea of an outright ban, including many tourism operators. Ultimately, the decision may rest with Environment Minister Peter Garrett, the former frontman of politically charged Midnight Oil.
Mr. Garrett has never himself climbed Uluru, instead saying he’s respected the sign at the bottom placed there by the traditional owners, which states “Please don’t climb Uluru.” Although his preference is clear, he wants to make sure the correct decision is made:
There should be a debate amongst the stakeholders: the tourism industry, indigenous people, governments and others.
Stay tuned!
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Have you hiked Uluru? Would you do it despite the request from the local aboriginals to refrain?
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Carlo Alcos
Carlo is a Managing Editor at Matador and co-founder of Confronting Love. He blogs about travel, life, and creativity at Vagabonderz.com. Like him on Facebook and follow him on Twitter. He lives in Nelson, British Columbia.
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I wouldn’t.
I remember the sign “please do not consume any food behind this point, it’s considered holy by the Maori people” (or similiar) – on the New Zealand North Island.
That’s right at the light house at Cape Reinga. And 90% of tourists had their lunch there, many right behind the sign. I was ashamed.
When I visited in 2002, I talked to an Aboriginal Australian about climbing beforehand. He said that it was dangerous, but that if I wanted to, I should. He also told me that the biggest concern for the Aborigines was not the holiness of the site, but that it made them sad when white people fell off the rock and hurt themselves.
Whites were the only ones telling me that Uluru was a sacred aboriginal site. Incidentally, these were the same people selling genuine Uluru sacred souvenirs.
As far as Eva’s St Peter’s analogy goes, the Catholic Church sells tickets to the Vatican and other religious sites. You can climb up into the towers at Notre Dame and wander around on the roof. Nobody is standing outside telling you that its disrespectful to sit in the pews, walk on the carpeting, or admire the architecture. And most people have the good sense not to urinate on the floor, finger the tapestry or steal the candles without being told.
If people have bad manners or act dangerously in public spaces, well, that’s another issue.
Climbing mountains because they’re there is the essence of why humans have always climbed mountains. Got to get to the top, got to see what’s on the other side. If our ancestors hadn’t climbed the Alps and had tried walking around them, we’d still be wearing goat skins and living in crude tents. As far as open minded and accepting the cultures of others goes, why should that not apply equally to Aboriginal and Australian culture?Everest is sacred to the Nepalese, but you don’t see them trying to arrange a ban on climbing – they simply demand that climbers respect the mountain.
Why is Ayers Rock any different?
Xmas eve I watched the sunset on Uluru, then I climbed it, at dawn on xmas morning. It is one of the most unforgettable xmases of my life, and one of the most unforgettable travel moments. The base walk was also moving, but the climb will be one of the highlights of my travels forever.
I understand there are cultural issues surrounding the area, and if I was going to stomp around the area I didn’t see it as much worse actually climbing the rock. I am sensitive to other cultures but did not feel that it would be something that would be on my conscience if I climbed Uluru. I agree with Pleski on this one.
Those that stomped around the base but didn’t climb Uluru/Ayres Rock can sit on their high horse on a technicality, but I will never forget that climb, the feeling of getting to the top, or the view from the top for miles across the outback as far as the eye could see.