Valentine, throughout the movie, is very interested in seeing this phenomenon of the snake. The snake is a series of low clouds that form low to the earth because of an overhanging high pressure that forces the clouds into the valley of the mountains. It is an amazing meterological experience and Valentine is bound and determined to do absolutely everything in her power to see it. Maria on the other hand isn’t impressed by the fact that she is being expected to get up early to hike just to see a bunch of clouds. Then one morning the concierge lets Valentine know that conditions were perfect to see the snake the next morning early.
As the two are on their way Maria expresses concern that they are lost and that she was frustrated. This obviously irritates Valentine to know end who is perfectly aware of where they are and where they are going. She even attempts to show Maria on the map, “See we just came around this bend, and we are about to round this bend here and see the snake.” But Maria will have none of it, and charges off on the trail ahead of Valentine. Val follows until the bend and then she disappears into a crest as we see Maria trudging defiantly on towards the view of the snake.
When Maria arrives at a good destination spot to watch from she sits on a trail and waits for the snake and for Valentine to join her, as she always has before.
But Valentine never comes. Maria begins to scream for her, but Val never responds and we never see her again. The clouds form and coalesce into a slithering form and it ducks and weaves throughout the mountains, but Maria and Val never see it, and they never see each other again.