The massif of the Zugspitze is the only region in Germany, which reaches up to the heights of eternal snow and ice. This documentary follows the course of a torrent, from the valley to its source, and shows, how the vegetation, the landscape and its dwellers change with increasing height. Furthermore, it explains, how animals and plants have to adapt to the harsh conditions in order to survive. The Alpine snow grouse, the chamois and the marmot wear an isolating pelage. The crossed viper, the common lizard and the Alpine salamander benefit from their dark colour to store an optimum of the rare thermal radiation. However, in a few years, the torrent will have run dry, because its source, the Zugspitz glacier, will have melted due to the climate warming. Thus, also the species along its banks have to face a new struggle for survival.