Outback Adventure 2019
Day 8
Curtin Springs - Yulara- Kata Tjuta - Uluru - Yulara
Today was an epic day! Had we known what would unfold today.....we might have been a bit more prepared! But anyway...
We stirred to the rooster at Curtin Springs heralding the new day at 5.15am and rolled over to get up at a more respectable 8am. We didn’t have too far to drive today.
We left Curtin Springs at 9.30 to head into Yulara for the next 4 nights. It was only 80 odd kms to drive to Yulara.... you know just down the road for the distances we are driving currently.
We checked in and set up on our sites - in each way so our awnings can face each other and give us some valuable shade. After lunch we decided that we’d head out to Kata Tjuta Olga’s) for a quick 1 hour walk in the Walpa Gorge. It’s a good 60kms drive from Yulara.
The Olga’s are spectacular and it was 33 degrees when we arrived. The flies also decided it would be a great time to visit with us! Unwanted hangers on! We timed our visit well - in between tour busses and so enjoyed our walk reaching the end viewing area all by ourselves! When we left another 2 buses turned up.
From Kata Tjuta we headed towards Uluru - it was just after 4pm. We were only going to check out the best spots in the sunset car park to watch the sunset over the rock. We worked out our preferred spots and given it was only 4.30,thought we’d do a quick drive out to the Mala car park ( the main one) so Lana could get her first real view of the rock.....however....on our way we spotted moving objects on the rock! The climb was open!
The climb is closed more days out of the year than it it is opened. We spent 3 frustrating days last visit waiting so when we were given a window - we took it!
We quickly pulled into the car park, grabbed the hydration packs and it was on. Started climb at 4.45pm in 33 degree heat. We made steady progress, however the steepness quickly took its toll - Lana dropped out and returned. Corinne, Cayla and I continued. At the top of the climb we were all pretty fatigued. The temp on the rock was more like 45 degrees and that quickly led to the lactic acid build up.....leg burn! We stopped at the top of the chain for a break and left Corinne there to rest. Cayla and I continued on. After a bit more of a traverse up, a beautiful cool breeze presented itself which gave us a renewed energy push to get us the the summit. That breeze cooled us nicely and we made it just on an hour after we started climbing.
Just before the summit, I found 20c in a crater hole! Wow, I even got paid to climb Uluru!
At the summit we met up with a Dad and his 2 adult sons from Adelaide. Dad had climbed 53 years ago as a kid and so, like us, made the trek to climb it for one last time. We took photos of each other at the summit and they even took a Polaroid of us which was a lovely momento for us.
Heading back, we collected Corinne for the climb down and FaceTimed Cobey for the finish.
We had planned on watching the sunset and so were prepared with a well earned beer at the base of the rock whilst the sun went down and the colours showed themselves.
Our sunset at the viewing site will wait! We sat till dusk at Uluru and returned wearily to camp for dinner and a few more drinks to reminisce on our epic adventure. More fun to come tomorrow!