Ski in Germany

At 2,962 meters (9,718 feet), the highest peak in Germany can be found in Garmisch-Partenkirchen. The official ski season opened there in mid-November. Apparently altitude was high enough to ensure snow on the ground.

The artificial stuff will likely have to be used more often in the future.

Skiing at night in the Schwarzwald can be dangerous, especially if you have to watch out for rocks and grass.

The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said that Germany's ski areas are those most jeopardized by climate change, especially the regions of Upper Bavaria (pictured here) and Allgäu.

This snowman looks rather lost among all the green in northern Bavaria. Lucky he's made out of plastic and doesn't need to worry about unseasonably warm temperatures.

Düsseldorf, located on the Rhine River in northwestern Germany, doesn't usually get much snow, climate change aside. But that doesn't stop the city from hosting the cross-country skiing World Cup.

Will the slopes ever look like that again? Conditions were perfect just a few years ago in Feldberg in the Black Forest.

The Allgäu region saw snow in May 2006, but may have to plug in the artificial snow machines again this winter.

Skiers pass a panorama of the Allgäu Alps while on their way to the real thing. Oberstdorf in the Allgäu region is home to the Four-Hills ski-jumping competition.