Lenarenee, it sounds like you had a wonderful time! I am so glad to read about your experience. Good point about altitude sickness. I wish I had thought of that, but it's been so long since I've experienced myself it didn't even cross my mind. I suppose that's because I travel so much back and forth across the Continental Divide that I am fairly acclimatized. But I do often hear the water bottles making those crackling noises and when I open my trunk, I invariably find shrunken empty water bottles (I don't toss them out; I save them) after a mountainous drive.
You are so right about hydration, too, another thing I surely forgot to mention. I am always thirsty, so for me it's like second nature, but when hiking or even walking slowly in mountains, I tend to breath off a lot of water and get even more thirsty!
Love your photos!