Ayres Rock

If you get past chicken rock and reach the chain, all you need is air and a suitable blood pressure. Go for it. Just one step at a time.
Cheers
Wayne

Do it in the morning while it is cooler
Wear very good shoes
Wear a pair of gloves and a hat - it can be very cold - gloves will help when climbing the first section with chain to hold on to
Take some water and some food eg fruit
Dont give up - some poeple turn around half way up - the last half is a lot easier

Blueey,

Best advice is just take it at your own pace.

Chicken rock is the place where you have to leave the security of having part of the rock to hold on to and head off over the bare rock to reach the start of the chain. Once you get to the chain just take your time and rest as often as you like. At the top of the chain the going is easy. Instead of just the curve of the rock either side of you it is a wide area and just a climb, walk and scramble up to the top.

You will be fine if you are doing some exercises..walking etc. Wear a hat, take water and take your time.

As for how long...well, make it take as long as you need. Don't rush. Just enjoy the experience.

Best wishes

Viv

blueey
You will not regret the climb, it took me about a four hour turn around but I did stuff around on top of the rock for quite a while taking pictures etc. Take water with you and wear good non slip climbing shoes, it is very steep (hence the chain to pull yourself up) and take your time and stop to admire the view. Just make sure you are healthy (not just fit) as it will put quite a strain on the ticker.
The top of the chain as seen from the bottom is about half way to the top as you walk a fair way to reach the cairn on the top with the vistors book.
Good Luck and enjoy
John M

Gooday,
As suggested go earlier in the day, they close the climb if it looks like rain, gets too hot , or wind above a stiff breeze. Make sure you take water Camera & as said good footwear. I first did it in Nov 1964 when the first short section of chain had only been up for 2 weeks.
Went back in 2000 & wanted to do it again but suffering from Chronic Arhritis in both hips, got mechanical ones in 2001 & 2002, went back again in Oct 2004, then aged 66 & climbed it again. "Oh What a Feeling".
Had several rest stops, left at 9-30 AM & most were on there way down so It made it quite easy. Back at the bottom just B4 12-00noon. Take your Cdma with you , one Lady there when I was phoned her friend from there.
Cheers,
Boroma604

One other thing to keep in mind, is that the climb is not always open.

So allow enough time in your schedule if it's something you really want to do. EG have a day or so spare just incase.

They will close the climb if it's too hot, if theres any chance of rain, or as someone else mentioned, if there's more than a puff of wind.

It can close in a blink of an eye. So if you get there and the gate at the bottom of the climb is open, then make sure you get through the gate and start climbing!

All of the above mate.
One step at a time and dont race or try to compete with any one else.
If some one wants to go pass let THEM go around you!
Youll love it and good on ya!
As far as time goes, as long as it takes! dont set a time! ( half a dayish)
A couple of litres of water per person and you will be fine.
I personally hate the place, but I think anyone who wants to climb it should while you still can!
Good luck
Cheers

Seems like we need to get out there and up the rock while we still can. I will have trouble if the weather is hot - what month is likely to be the best (coolest)?

One person we met said the highlight of extensive touring in Australia was standing at the top. I'm losing any fitness i built up on the walks in Tassie and the Flinders - trouble is that work that pays any money for me involves long days behind a desk. Running around the farm chasing sheep is much more fun and better for my health, but doesn't bring in any more $$s.

Like everyone has said just take your time. I took around 3 hours all up (I was 54 at the time). Wear a hat but make sure you can secure it otherwise it will be whipped off and disappear if there is any breeze. The climb can be deceiving, getting to chicken rock makes you think you're almost there, but you ain't! It's worth the climb at least once in life. Stop and have a few rests and enjoy the incredible views.
Good luck
Peter

What they said. the part with the chain is pretty steep and at 20 years younger than you and not totally unfit i still had plenty of stops. The walk mis longer than it looks as it is not just to the top and that is it. From the photos you see you dont ralise how round it is so it is still a fair walk (although easy) accross the top to the highest point. When descending the chain it looks steep and many try to slide down on rthere bum (fantastic when a 20 something german tourist gets her pants pulled 1/2 down revealing th G string and --- well nevermind)
With good shoes this isnt neccessary just walk steadily down.
Another good peice of advise that was given is if you see it open - climb it. it was closed when i got there and reopened so i climbed instead of taking sunset pictures.
Also Dont let the "dont climb" hype put you off. It is fantastic. visiting and not climbing is like visiting a brothel and getting no sex

A bit of info for you.

Closure of the Uluru Climb
For safety reasons the climb will be closed under certain circumstances.

Heat - closed at 8:00am if the forecast maximum temperature for Yulara is 36 degrees centigrade or more;

Wind - closed if the estimated wind speed at 2500ft is 25 knots or more;

Storms - closed if there is any storm activity between NW and SW closer than 50km to Uluru;

Rain - closed if there is a greater than 20% chance of rain in the next 3 hours;

Lightning - closed if there is a greater than 5% chance of thunderstorms in the next 3 hours;

Cloud - closed if cloud descends to or below the summit of Uluru;

Darkness - closed from half an hour after sunset to half an hour before sunrise;

Rescue - closed during all rescue operations on Uluru.

Cultural Reasons - closed upon request from Traditional Owners following a death or due to a cultural event or ceremony occurring.

Try this site
Site Link

Its going to be hot in November so try to go earlier in the year

If they say at Yulara resort it is closed still go to the rock as we were there in May and they said it was closed and when we got to the rock it was open

good luck

It's one of the things you have to do in your lifetime I recon, I did it in 1984 before it became so controversial and will always remember that coming back down someone had dropped a Pentax camera on the chain section and it was a few metres from the chain & no one would let go the chain to retrieve it.....Best time to go is as early as you can, I started at about 5:00am and didn't get back till about 11:00 am and it was stinking hot...One of the experiences in life that is trully memorable!

GPS, CDMA Ph, Camera, water bottle, no Blunstons (slipery) Jogers Fun attitude

We walked around it too; went to climb it in the AM but it was closed - too windy. So we walked round it, then when we got back to the carpark, it was open, so we climbed it. Wouldn't recommend doing it that way, as we were reasonable stuffed after the 12km walk, with all the little detours. As others have said, get there early, and take plenty of everything mentioned.
Andrew

I've climbed it twice, the most recent 2004. All the posts above are spot on for time, what to take, and to do it in your own time.

I must admit that I got brownie points last time I climbed it, I asked my missus to marry me right at the summit. Great feeling, great scenery. Just had to get down without killing ourselves or else it was going to be a short engagement.
Had a few drinks that night at the Pioneer Tavern in Yulara ........