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The Climb

The Climb
From NT Government Tourist Brochure, circa 1983.
Photo likely taken by Derek Roff, Chief Ranger between 1968 and 1985
Text reads:
Sheer rock looms before you, stretching 348 metres up. It seems like madness to try to climb it. But for many people the climb to the top of Ayers Rock is one of the greatest challenges of the Australian outback. About 50 000 people a year climb the Rock. But you have to be fit. It's steep, sometimes slippery and it's deceiving. You seem to climb forever. Each skyline appears to be the last but in fact, you cannot see the summit until you are 100 metres away. It takes about 90 minutes to reach the top. But when you get there the spectacular view makes it all worthwhile. After proudly signing the achievers' book, all you have to do is get down. Don't be mistaken. The climb down is just as difficult as the climb to the top. 

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