Advertisement
Published: July 22nd 2009
Edit Blog Post
Uluru
This is so far from what we thought it looked like. By now I’m sure you have realized that we kind of like rocks. Well we’ve been to see the Big Daddy of them all, Uluru, and did we like it? We LOVED it!
I guess we’d seen those same images our whole life and thought we knew what it looks like but not so. As we got closer we began to gasp and babble to each other. “Look at it!” “I don’t believe it!” “It’s nothing at all like I thought!” “I thought it was rough!” “I thought it was smooth!” “Look at that! It’s like honeycomb!” “It’s awesome!”
We drove around the 10 km base in disbelief. How come we didn’t know it was such a fabulous place? It’s pitted with holes and gashes, ribs, valleys and caves. Let me assure those of you who haven’t seen it yet that it really is one place you shouldn’t miss.
The thought of climbing it was very daunting; it looks so steep and dangerous; it IS so steep and dangerous. For those who have climbed it, congratulations. At the very beginning there are rocks at the side to hang on to, but after that there is nothing for a
The climb up Uluru
There’s a person in black about 1/3 of the way down from the top of the photo. That’s how far we went. It's deceiving how much further it is to the top...a long long way. while before the chain handrail starts. That gap was the problem for me.
We went up the first bit and then I chickened out - the fear factor kicked in. On the second attempt I made it to the chain handrail and I clung on like my hand was welded to it; then up we climbed a little bit further. Well I'd like to say I made it to the top but not a chance. So many others stride up like it’s a walk in the park but so many others are worse than me. There were children way up who were screaming with fear and we heard there was a woman at the top who was hysterical and couldn’t come down. We don’t know what happened with her.
Back at the bottom, we sat and watched all the things other people were doing - walking way too closely to the sheer drop, running up, running down, walking up on their hands and feet, sliding down on their bottom, talking on their mobile phone - one slip and you’re on a downward roll with nothing to stop you. We watched someone’s camera disintegrate as it bounced it’s way
Uluru
Even though this looks small, it's very high up and is huge. The rock is as tall as a 95 story building. Don't be influenced by the tree in front because it's a long long way away from the rock. down past us, and thought of all the accidents that surely must happen.
We liked Uluru so much that we ended up with more than 750 photos of probably every little dimple on it. Can’t wait for the slide evening, can you?
Only joking.
You can see The Olgas from the Rock but you don't have access to all of them. They are a series of huge domes and to stand at the bottom and look straight up the sheer sides of the gorge is disorientating and can make you sway and loose balance. There is no road all the way around but they were still pretty special.
A few hours drive north is Kings Canyon. We arrived in the afternoon and went for the short walk along the bottom of the gorge and weren't overly excited about it. It was nice but not as good as it was supposed to be. Next morning I had to be gently booted out of bed to do the 3.5 hour climb and walk along the rim of the gorge…groan…do we have to? My enthusiasm was overwhelming.
It turned out to be such a terrific walk. The climb
Uluru cave
The cold weather has finally caught up with us. was very steep but at the top it was like a different world with a network of ancient domes and sheer drops down to the canyon floor. It was breathtaking to see the cliff face and how huge blocks had sheered off, some as big as houses. The last major fall was in the 1930s but the way people walked right to the very edge of the crumbling sandstone, it was as if they thought it's never going to happen again, especially when they're standing on it.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.087s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 5; qc: 45; dbt: 0.0414s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.1mb
Julie Hansen
non-member comment
It's Huge!!!!!!
ALL I CAN SAY IS A..M..A..Z..I..N..G!!