Climb fever: Last day of Uluru climb brings in thousands
The decision to ban people from climbing Ayers Rock has divided a nation, and with its last day on the books, big numbers are expected to swarm in before a permanent closing of the climb.
The 33 degrees forecast for Friday means the climb will be open all day after extreme heat this week.
On Thursday the hours to scale up Uluru were restricted between 7 am and 8 am due to a sweltering 40 degree day.
After the last of the climbers come down, workers will immediately start removing all evidence climbing was ever allowed on the 348-metre high red sandstone rock.
Uluru is arguably one of Australia’s most famous landmarks.
The chain handhold that was built in 1964 for visitors to get up and down the steep western face will also be removed.
Photos and videos of massive queues of people waiting to climb up the rock - against the wishes of local Indigenous people - has surfaced on social media, garnering heavy criticism as a result.
“If native aboriginal people fought to ban climbing on their extremely sacred rock, why would you still want to climb it, you asinine tourists!” wrote actor and rock climber Sebastian Roché on Twitter.
“Imagine learning Uluru was being shut off for climbing because it’s sacred to the Aboriginal culture, and instead of respecting that, you spend the final day before it closes doing... this,” another person said.
The National Park board decided in 2017 to ban the climb from Saturday.
It marks 35 years since the land title to the Anangu was given back on October 26, 1985.
Earlier this week, tourist Tegan McLellan, 28 scaled the massive landmark with her partner in a bid to get in before the practice is banned.
The veterinary nurse and social media influencer said climbing to the top of Uluru has always been on her bucket list but it wasn’t until she heard the climb would be closed for good that she decided to make the journey to the Red centre.
“Uluru has always been on my list of places to visit but was always a ‘some day’ trip,” she told news.com.au.
“Uluru is an icon of Australia and an important part of our history.
“Since hearing that the climb was closing I decided to make it a priority to visit before the opportunity was gone.”
Ms McMlellan says she found the climb to be “difficult” despite being a pretty fit person.
“It’s very steep in some parts … and you can easily lose your footing. Your shoes slip easily, so you have to pull yourself up using the chain, but the chain was also slippery from everyone’s suncream and sweaty hands,” she explained.
The Queensland-based nurse said the “tough climb” should have regulations in place for people.
“It’s a very tough climb with no shade and even the way down is just as tough,” she said.
“You have people going up, people coming down and people sitting and resting, all along a very steep slope on a narrow track.
“I heard that one lady got stuck halfway up and sat there for two hours in the scorching sun because she couldn’t get down.”
Uluru is a sacred site and holds great spiritual significance to local Aboriginal communities, including the Pitjantjatjara Anangu traditional owners who live in nearby Mutitjulu.
"It is just a blip in the middle, this whole climb thing, it is going back to normal by banning the climb,” said Mutitjulu resident and Central Land Council chair Sammy Wilson
The Anangu people will celebrate with a ceremony at the rock on Sunday night.
Scroll through the gallery above to see Tegan McLellan's climb through pictures. Images: @teganmclellan