Thread: Uluru at peace.

Originally Posted by timax

There are plenty of natural places around the world where for some cultural reason you cant go.
Mt Machhapuchchhre in Nepal for example would be on most climbers radar being just shy of 7k meters. But its a sacred mountain and has never been climbed.
I dont see Uluru as any different .

its off limit to climbers to preserve its shape and beauty. nothing about being sacred.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

Mt Kailash is not man-made, the sacred rocks in Japan are not man-made, the sacred trees in Japan are not man-made, Mt Athos is not man-made - a religious site does not have to be constructed to be sacred.

except for mt athos, where there are people living there, none of those sites are religious.
and if your going to go with religion, well my make believe god is more powerful then your make believe god, and he said its ok.

Uluru has become the first victim of Climb-it Change

just to weigh in....

Its just a rock.

Its just a rock that has a small section that is a spirtual resting ground

I dont think climbing the rock should be banned.

I do think the area of significance should be cordoned

even if they do ban the climb

I think the access ways should remain to permit easier and safer access for those of the culture for whom that area is of actual significance

While I wouldn't knowingly walk on a grave I'm perfectly happy to walk through and past grave yards and sites., There is a spectacular cemetary near perth that is effectively a park with graves. I've been there a few times just for the views.

And yes, I've climbed it as per in a previous post, with the guidance of an elder...

I get the significance to them....

to me, ITs a rock with a spectacular view that has the equivelent of a shrine on it and this is supposedly a multicultrual country, if its within spec for what is as close as my culture as it gets to permit people to walk and visit in close proximity and those of the culture that wish to blanket ban the rock climb should, of their own volition, follow their own cultural beliefs and guidance when it comes to paying respect to the resting areas and spiritual grounds of other cultures and stay well clear.

Want some examples...

you can get to within about 10m of the tomb of the unkown soldier, you can get to within 10 feet of the memorial flame, you can get right up to and touch almost every anzac memorial....

Yet I dont see those of the culture voluntarily keeping more than 500m between them and those (except maybe the tomb of the unkown soldier because they're on different continents.

Originally Posted by Arapiles

Is that a religious belief that it's just a rock? Which religion would that be?

I would not have thought that someone has to be religious to believe in something, but to answer your question, no.

This Anangu mob can't even keep their own community in good order as it resembles a garbage tip with all the rubbish strewn around amongst the wreaked cars and other junk where they live.
If they don't have any respect for their own homes and where their children play then why all the song and dance about a bloody rock?
I put it to you that this ban on climbing the rock is more to do with politics than it has to do with "culture".

Originally Posted by Eevo

its off limit to climbers to preserve its shape and beauty. nothing about being sacred.

I think that you're quoting from the Wikipedia article which subsequently goes on to state:

"Since then, the mountain has been declared sacred, and is now closed to climbers."

And in any case, exactly how would climbers change the shape of a mountain?

Clearer explanation of its sacred status here:

"Rising nearly 7000 metres into the clear blue sky above Nepal’s rugged Annapurna mountain range, Machapuchare is arguably the most untouched place on Earth. Believed to be one of the homes of the Hindu god Shiva, its isolated summit sits alone in the sky – unclimbable and untouched. Officially, Machapuchare has never been summited, making its ethereal heights one of the least-visited places on Earth."

The Untouched Holy Mountain of Nepal | AnOther

Originally Posted by Arapiles

I think that you're quoting from the Wikipedia article which subsequently goes on to state:

"Since then, the mountain has been declared sacred, and is now closed to climbers."

And in any case, exactly how would climbers change the shape of a mountain?

yep. its the since then. it wasnt sacred before.

didnt make sense to me either.