BACKGROUND - Canadian Rockies: Including Banff and Jasper National Parks - page 501

half the flora of the mountains falls within this zone. The climax species are Engelmann
spruce and subalpine fir (recognized by its spirelike crown), although extensive forests of
lodgepole pine occur in areas that have been scorched by fire in the last 100 years. Before
lodgepole pines take root in fire-ravished areas, fireweed blankets the scorched earth. At
higher elevations, stands of larch are seen. Larches are deciduous conifers—unlike those
of other evergreens, their needles turn a golden-orange color each fall, producing a magni-
ficent display for photographers.
Indian paintbrush is common along riverbanks.
ALPINE
The alpine zone extends from the tree line to mountain summits. The upper limit of tree
growth in the Canadian Rockies varies between 1,800-2,400 meters (5,900-7,900 feet)
above sea level, dropping progressively to the north until it meets the treeless tundra of
the Arctic. Vegetation at these high altitudes occurs only where soil has been deposited.
Large areas of alpine meadows burst with color for a short period each summer as lupines,