Subalpine Colorado Evergreens

Above 9,000 feet in the Colorado Rockies, the forests are composed of Engelmann Spruce and Subalpine Fir (Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa).  Generally, subalpine evergreens are tall and thin to shed the deep winter snow.  Even within those two species, there is a lot of variability of height, needles, color, shape, etc.  Notice in the third picture how the bottom branches are growing along the ground, because of matting from the weight of the snow.  In the fourth picture, the evergreens are on the slope while willow shrubs grow along the stream.