A bridge between Eastern and Western United States, Trail Ridge Road traverses over the Rocky Mountains' Continental Divide as the highest continuous paved road in the United States. It's a moderately winding path that sneaks between breathtaking, impenetrable 14ers flanking on both sides.

We took our Subaru for a workout, driving up the more than 3,000 foot elevation gain. None of us flexed our NASCAR skills, however, as the road was tightly hugged by sheer cliff dropoffs — guardrails are not welcomed here. Some mountain martial arts was on the agenda, though.

At around 11,000 feet, we appreciated a whole new perspective of the Rocky Mountains. During most visits to this grand range, all the peaks tower above you in domineering awe. Yet here, we stood among them on an equal plane. Viewing the park in this top-down way truly conveyed its grandeur.

There still were, of course, many peaks that towered far above us. My camera offers them the most respect.

This excursion was part of my Colorado adventures in the spring of 2021.