Rocky Mountains

I reach up so high that I can tickle the puffy white clouds with my pointy stone fingers. My slopes are covered in a cozy green blanket of pine trees where fuzzy brown bears look for berries and graceful deer nibble on leaves. Even on the hottest summer days, I wear a cool, white hat made of snow that sparkles in the sun. I am a home for soaring eagles and chirping birds. Have you guessed who I am? I am the great Rocky Mountains.

My story began a long, long, long time ago, before there were any people. The Earth gave a mighty push and a powerful squeeze. It wrinkled and folded the ground, lifting me up, up, up until my peaks stood tall against the blue sky. For thousands and thousands of years, I was a happy home to many Indigenous people. They knew all my secret paths, listened to the songs of my sparkling rivers, and understood the whispers of my wind. They cared for me, and I was proud to be their home. Then, one day around the year 1805, some new people arrived. They were explorers named Lewis and Clark. They carried maps and compasses and looked a little lost as they stared up at my giant peaks. They probably wondered, “How will we ever cross these huge mountains?”. Luckily, they had a very brave and smart friend with them named Sacagawea. She was a young woman who knew me well. She showed them which berries were safe to eat and which paths would lead them safely through my tricky trails. She helped them understand me, and I helped them on their journey.

Today, I am a giant playground for everyone. In the summer, families come to hike on my winding trails, their laughter echoing through my valleys. They dip their toes in my chilly streams and have picnics in my meadows filled with colorful wildflowers. When my snowy hat grows into a big, fluffy blanket in the winter, people bring skis and sleds. Whee. They zip down my slopes, making happy shouts. Sometimes, people just sit very quietly and watch the majestic elk munching on grass. It is important to be gentle and quiet around my animal friends. I hope you will come visit me one day. You can listen to the wind whisper secrets through my pine trees and feel the thrill of standing on top of the world. I am here for everyone to enjoy, a special place that reminds us just how amazing and beautiful our planet is.