The 9-year-old American boy Tyler Armstrong who successfully summited the highest peak in the Southern Hemisphere.
China News Service, Dec. 29 — According to foreign media reports on the 28th, American 9-year-old boy Tyler Armstrong has successfully climbed Aconcagua, the highest peak in the Western Hemisphere, setting a record as the youngest person ever to reach its summit. He said he is determined to climb the highest peaks on all seven continents.
After obtaining special permission from Argentine authorities, Tyler Armstrong summited Aconcagua together with his father, becoming the youngest person ever to “conquer” the mountain.
Speaking shortly after reaching the summit on Christmas Eve, Tyler Armstrong said, “Any kid can do this if they’re willing to try and have the determination to achieve their goal.”
Last year, Tyler also conquered Mount Kilimanjaro, the highest peak in Africa at 5,900 meters above sea level, in Tanzania.
Aconcagua is the world’s highest dormant volcano, located on the border between Argentina and Chile. At 6,962 meters above sea level, it is the tallest peak outside of Asia and the highest in the Southern Hemisphere. It presents a considerable challenge. Over 100 climbers have lost their lives attempting to summit the peak.
Tyler said, “You really get a sense of the beauty of the world up there at the summit — with clouds beneath your feet and it’s extremely cold.”
His father, Kevin Armstrong, said that in preparation for climbing Aconcagua, Tyler trained twice a day for six months. “Most people assume we parents are pushing our child to do this, but it’s actually the complete opposite.”
Because of his young age, Tyler had to obtain special permission from an Argentine judge to attempt the climb. His father said the judge considered that the climbing team was fundraising for a foundation supporting research into muscular dystrophy when making the decision.
Before Tyler, the youngest person to summit Aconcagua was American boy Matthew Moniz, who achieved the feat at the age of 10 in 2008.