NOV 2 YOU CAN'T CLIMB AYERS ROCK ANYMORE

NOV 2  YOU CAN'T CLIMB AYERS ROCK ANYMORE

One of Australia's most iconic sites is Ayers Rock. Also known by the Aboriginal name, Uluru, its shape is so recognizable, its on the Outback Steakhouse logo! Anyhow, ever since William Gosse stumbled upon the 2,831 foot high peak in 1873 (He named it after his boss, Sir Henry Ayers), its been a flash point for Anglo / Aboriginal relations. While the settlers saw it as a tourist attraction, with fantastic alluvial fans and fabulous feldspar, to the Anangu people, it is a sacred place.

While the Aborigines are amongst the earth's oldest civilizations...dating back 50,000 years...this was of little relevance to the British. They saw Ayers Rock as a fun destination for the wealthy; a Victorian Bucket List site. When it officially opened as a National Park in 1958, an airstrip, hotels, restaurants and tourist shops soon followed. Although it was a "no-no" to climb Uluru, posts with linking chains were drilled into the sandstone.

As jet travel improved, the number of visitors to Uluru increased. Statistics show that one-third of the people who made the trek came specifically to climb the peak. It takes about an hour: It's only a half-mile trail, but horribly steep. There is no netting, and 37 people have fallen to their death in attempted climbs. The route chosen for the path is the most gradual ascent. Naturally, this is the same route the Anangu creation god Tjukurpa took. After decades of political wrangling, Prime Minister Bob Hawke handed the land back to the Aborigines in 1985.

While the law did forbid climbing Uluru, the only enforcement came in the form of a harshly-worded, guilt-inducing sign at the base of the trail. It failed the stem the tide. When Uluru was named a World Heritage Site in 2000, the number of annual visitors jumped to 400,000. While the vast majority behaved properly, a couple of yahoos ruined it for everyone. They carved their names in the sandstone and took chunks home as souvies. They hit golf balls, twerked in the nude and peed all over the place. (There are no bathrooms on Uluru.)

Finally, the Anangu people screamed; "Enough!" As of Friday at 4pm, not only is it against the law to climb Uluru, but violators will be fined A$600. When the clock struck four, jubilation filled the air. People danced for joy, knowing the Gods were pleased. Let's see how things progress. Since people spend tens of thousands of dollars to visit the remote site, many fear the $600 fine will just be seen as part of the trip's budget..