Recently I went probing the snow line in the Alps (no snow at all in valleys up to 700-800 metres except the odd patch of snow in shadowy places, above that on the shady sides of hills snow on flatter places while steeper slopes are free of snow high up to probably well beyond 1,200 metres, and sunny sides are free of snow even higher up; the peak of Schneeberg of course still is glittering white, however the wind-blown, sunny south-western side seems to have a rather big area free of snow).
I hoped for snow roses still to flower, and I needn't have worried - there were plenty, even down in the valley - easily visible when driving past with my car. I managed to get up to probably 1,000 metres on Schneeberg mountain when I gave up due to exhaustion by wading through soft snow: I guess I should have tried the sunny side.
