Final answer:
Disagreeing with the statement, it's clarified that the Appalachian Mountains are ancient and that their hikeable condition is due to erosion rather than their age or height. Young mountains like Torres del Paine can indeed be tall and sharply peaked.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement 'People can hike the Appalachian trail because the mountains are young and still forming so they are not very tall' is not entirely accurate. The ability to hike the Appalachian Trail is less related to the height of the mountains and more associated with the trail management and the conservation efforts that maintain it. While the Appalachian Mountains are indeed ancient, their current form is largely due to significant erosional processes over millions of years. The erosion has worn the mountains down to rolling hills that are indeed hikeable.
The idea that young mountains are not tall is incorrect; for instance, the Torres del Paine are a young and tall mountain range where sharp peaks are sculpted by glaciers. The age of a mountain range can affect its characteristics and topography, but it is not necessarily indicative of its ease for hiking. It's the balancing act of erosion and upthrust from tectonic activity that ultimately shapes a mountain's features over time.