An article in the Times, published at the end of August, has stated some very good reasons why you shouldn't attempt to climb Ayers Rock when visiting Alice Springs.
For a start it's not really supposed to be called Ayers Rock anymore.
The Anangu, the local Aboriginal people, were recognised as the traditional owners of the rock 23 years ago, and they refer to it as Uluru.
They request that visitors not climb the rock as the path crosses a sacred traditional Dreamtime track, and also, very unselfishly, to protect the safety of visitors to their land.
If you go to Uluru you will see a sign which reads: "Our traditional Law teaches us the proper way to behave.
"We ask you to respect our Law by not climbing Uluru."
Sadly a third of visitors seem to have trouble reading this sign and still attempt the climb - perhaps the notice should stress that 35 people have been killed attempting the ascent and many more have been injured.
People who do visit the area could well take advantage of
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