Subalpine Fir
Abies bifolia (A. lasiocarpa)

Family: Pine (Pinaceae)
AKA:
Photo taken on: August 4, 2007
Location: Beckwith Pass Trail, GV, CO
Life Zones: Montane to alpine
Habitat: North-facing slopes

Can grow to 100ft. Like Engelmann Spruce, it is also stunted at timberline. The thin silvery gray bark is one way to distinguish this fir from the spruces.

Needles are flat and soft (friendly fir) compared to the spruces (spiky spruce).

Cones point upwards from the branch unlike the spruces which point down.

Flora of North America reference.