When flying from LA to New York and passing over the central United States through Colorado, a majestic landscape unfolds as if flying on another planet. Long white ridges stretching below the window, endlessly overlapping peaks, and a world sparkling in the sunlight. This is the Rocky Mountains, known as the spine of America.

Flying over mountains that exceed 4,000 meters in elevation, one is reminded of how vast nature is and how small humans are. This sight is particularly impressive in winter or early spring. The entire mountain range is covered in pure white snow, with dark rocks and forests peeking through, creating a striking contrast. As the sunlight tilts, the mountain shadows stretch long, and the illuminated areas shine brightly. From above, the curves of the mountain range flow smoothly, almost giving the illusion of white waves rolling.

When departing from LA, the sea and desert alternate in view. Leaving the gray tones of the city behind and passing through Nevada's dry ochre terrain, the world suddenly changes. A white line appears on the horizon, and after a while, one realizes it is a massive mountain range. From that moment, the scenery outside the window changes completely. Peaks rising above the clouds reveal themselves here and there, and deep canyons carve through the landscape like a painting. Among them, the prominent peak is Pikes Peak.

This mountain, located near Colorado Springs, stands at about 4,300 meters, and on clear days, it is distinctly visible from the airplane window. The white ridges spreading out from this peak stretch across the American continent like a spine. Depending on the flight path, one may pass slightly north and glide over Rocky Mountain National Park, where mountains like Bear Lake and Longs Peak also appear beautiful, like dots on a pure white canvas from above.

Sometimes, the airplane descends below the clouds, skimming closely to the mountain range. At that moment, lakes sparkling like ice appear between the clouds, and the snow remaining only on the mountain tops reflects sunlight, creating a momentary dazzling light. That light quickly fades, but it lingers in the heart. Even in summer, snow still remains in the high regions of the Rocky Mountains. Thus, it is a season where green meadows and white snow-capped mountains can be seen simultaneously. This scenery gives the impression that nature has painted two seasons on one canvas.

Most people sitting by the window in the airplane pause to gaze outside when this scene unfolds. They forget the fatigue of travel and are simply overwhelmed by the enormity before them. Some try to capture the scenery in photographs, but the grandeur reflected beyond the glass is difficult to express in a single picture.

When flying over the Rocky Mountains, there are almost no signs of human presence, revealing the pure essence of nature instead. It feels like looking down at the wrinkles created by the movements of the continent over millions of years. The airplane gliding lightly above brings a moment of realization about the order and harmony of the world.