Amazing views!
I've never driven in the Rockies, but I remember going down south through the Smokies and around, all the warnings about brakes and the ramps on the side of the road here and there for out of control semi trucks. That must have been a bit stressful with your brakes screaming at you there.
It was. Luckily we were back at 7000 feet or so by then. The funny thing is the smokies top peak is a fraction of the height of all the Rockies.