Aconcagua

I am very, very tall, and my head is always chilly. I wear a big, fluffy hat made of white snow all year long. Sometimes, puffy clouds float by to say hello, and the bright sun warms my rocky shoulders. I live with a long line of mountain friends called the Andes, in a country named Argentina. We stand tall together under the big blue sky. Are you wondering who I am? I am Aconcagua, the tallest mountain you can find outside of Asia! It is so nice to meet you.

My story began a long, long, long time ago. The ground rumbled and shook, and then WHOOSH. It pushed me way, way up high into the sky. For many years, people called the Inca looked up at my snowy peak. They thought I was a special, sacred place, and they would sing songs to me. Then, one day, a brave climber came to visit. On January 14th, 1897, a man named Matthias Zurbriggen climbed all the way to my very top. He was the first one ever. He must have felt like he was on top of the world, waving to the little clouds below.

Today, friends from all over the world come to see me. They wear warm coats, fuzzy hats, and big, sturdy boots to keep their toes warm. They climb up my rocky paths to see the amazing view from up high. I love watching everyone try their very best to climb higher and higher. I am a big, stony reminder that with a happy heart and strong legs, you can do amazing things. You can reach for the sky.