Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 41

Thread: Ayers Rock

  1. #1
    numpty's Avatar
    numpty is offline TopicToaster Silver Subscriber
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Nundle
    Posts
    4,078
    Total Downloaded
    0

    Ayers Rock

    As some of you know, I work out here on a FIFO basis.

    Yesterday, after work I went and climbed the Rock. Nothing unusual about that per se, but it is 26 years since I'd last climbed it, as a 32 yr old with my daughter on my back. And you know what........it's still bloody steep and a decent walk. This was just a quick climb, up and back in an hour. I'm amazed that after countless thousands of feet trampling all over it, it hasn't worn down at all.

    It's an amazing lump and something I never tire of looking at or being near. Might just have to do it again in a couple of months.
    Numpty

    Thomas - 1955 Series 1 107" Truck Cab
    Leon - 1957 Series 1 88" Soft Top
    Lewis - 1963 Series 11A ex Mil Gunbuggy
    Teddy5 - 2001 Ex Telstra Big Cab Td5
    ​Betsy - 1963 Series 11A ex Mil GS
    REMLR No 143

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    under a rock, next to a tree, at Broadmarsh
    Posts
    6,738
    Total Downloaded
    0

    Shhh

    Whisper,

    Do you know if there is still any mention of a certain series land Rover getting to the top over thiry years ago?



    Cheers Arthur

  3. #3
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    brighton, brisbane
    Posts
    33,853
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Our family camped next to Ayres rock back in the 80's,can't do that now, walked around it [except the secret womans business area] saw the sightless fish in the pools of water close to the rock, did not climb it, out of respect, no offence to anyone who does climb it, just a personal thing.The only way a vehicle could climb the rock is with a crane, but it is a great urban myth, along with drop bears.I remember the road in from the track then was all dirt, corrugated,we did it in a holden premier from Darwin, did the auto gearbox part of the radiator, drove it to Alice, got it fixed, then a couple of years later drove the premier to Sydney [every time we stopped between the rock @ Alice you could hear the gearbox sizzle as the water washed back into it- didn't touch the gearbox for repairs at all,just dropped the oil, don't make them like that anymore.] Bob
    I’m pretty sure the dinosaurs died out when they stopped gathering food and started having meetings to discuss gathering food

    A bookshop is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    Loganlea Qld
    Posts
    1,652
    Total Downloaded
    0

    Smile

    Whilst you are there and climbing the rock, see if you can superimpose a current map of the Rock over this old 1960's map of as it was, and show me how far they have moved everything nowadays.

    The original climb was from Maggie Springs (#11 on the map) but this was a bit slippery at times so it was later changed. The chain guide wire made it a lot safer to climb, not so much because of the support but because when the chain went in the painted lines went in also and not so many people got lost on the top looking for the way down!



    We used to camp in the grounds of the Ayers Rock (Boomerang) Hotel (which was later changed to a club licence to get around the Aboriginal alcohol problem) for the first 20 or so trips,then moved to just behind the car camping spot on the map and only had to sit up in the morning for the mandatory sunrise shots. We regularly chartered a Connellan Airways 4 engined Dehavilland passenger aircraft to carry our passengers over the Rock and the Olgas (and this commercial aircraft was piloted by a female pilot (Christine someone I think)way before the Ansett one made the headlines), and they operated from the strip right alongside the "brain" as shown on the map.


    That's me waiting patiently for the group to take off.

    Harry Purvis was also an aircraft operator/character out there flying for SAATAS and Harry was the bloke who sold Reg Ansett his first aircraft, amongst other things.
    Just as an aside Numpty, I have climbed it 5 times voluntarily (once per year out of 52 trips) in my day and also a couple of involuntary times to carry a couple of injured climbers back down in a "fireman's hold"- those were fun times indeed, no choppers then, so get to it lad, you have some catching up to do.
    Regards
    Glen

    1962 P5 3 Ltr Coupe (Gwennie)
    1963 2a gunbuggy 112-722 (Onslow) ex 6 RAR
    1964 2a 88" SWB 113 251 (Daisy) ex JTC

    REMLR 226

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    Queensland
    Posts
    3,330
    Total Downloaded
    0

    Ayres Rock 1968

    Here is my camp in 68. No other bugger round then.






  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Logan Village area S.E. QLD
    Posts
    17,686
    Total Downloaded
    0
    I climbed it in '75...wasn't too hard back then

    been there since, and with respect to the locals, no way am I climbing it again

    Mrs hh
    Series Landy Rescue

    Parts, welding, finger folding, Storage, Painting, Fabrication, Restorations,
    Our FB Page..
    https://www.facebook.com/SeriesLR?ref=bookmarks

    '51 80", Discovery 2, Defender 130, 101 FC + 20 other Land Rover vehicles

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 1970
    Location
    Adelaide - Torrens Park
    Posts
    7,291
    Total Downloaded
    0
    I have climbed it twice. Once when I was 15 years old (easy jog up and down) and once at about 28 years of age (not quite as easy!).

    Will happily climb again one day, the view from the top is spectacular as is the sense of accomplishment.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    The new Gold Coast, after ocean rises,Queensland
    Posts
    13,078
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Is there any chance we may all call Uluru by its correct name? Dont let your stubborness spoil history. It was never Ayers Rock, never will be. I know a lot of people will point blank refuse to but why be ignorant?

  9. #9
    Join Date
    May 2010
    Location
    brighton, brisbane
    Posts
    33,853
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Quote Originally Posted by ramblingboy42 View Post
    Is there any chance we may all call Uluru by its correct name? Dont let your stubborness spoil history. It was never Ayers Rock, never will be. I know a lot of people will point blank refuse to but why be ignorant?
    With respect, It was Ayers Rock for the European settlers from the day the explorer went thru there.THATS history.I understand what you are saying, and say to you I was educated that way, all of my generation was.To our credit, we as a Nation have recognised the importance of Ularu to the Pitjandjara people. I wasn't going to say this, not wanting to start a bunfight, but in my opinion, those who climb the rock, are no better than someone who desecrates a cathedral.If you are serious about your belief, read the book, AYERS ROCK, byCharles P Mountford , if you haven't already. Some other books from Mountford on the subject;

    The art of Albert Namatjira
    Brown men and red sand
    The art, myth, and symbolism of Arnhem Land
    The Tiwi, their art, myth and ceremony
    Winbaraku and the myth of Jarapiri
    Nomads of the Australian desert
    I’m pretty sure the dinosaurs died out when they stopped gathering food and started having meetings to discuss gathering food

    A bookshop is one of the only pieces of evidence we have that people are still thinking

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Crafers West South Australia
    Posts
    11,732
    Total Downloaded
    0
    Ducks off a rock's back, I say. The Rock had no name for the aeons it sat there before the first human saw it. It will be there long after the last human is gone. Mere footprints will not wear it down. It will have other names in the future. I have been up on the Rock once, was enriched by the experience, and don't intend to do it again. A name for the Rock has specific meanings to different people. I for one am not ashamed of the white explorers who named the Rock Ayers Rock. They did what was proper at the time. And its still an awesome sight.

Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

Bookmarks

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Search AULRO.com ONLY!
Search All the Web!