[link|http://www.virtualology.com/virtualmuseumofnaturalhistory/hallofgeology/mountains/mountkilimanjaro.org/|Mount Kilimanjaro] is only a couple hundred miles away from the equator and it has glaciers. Altitude does make a difference. But, [link|http://www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld/profiles/terrestrial/na/na0526.html|Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir pine-oak forests], which are near there, only range 3600-9200 feet in altitude. I don't think that would cut it for glaciers. :)

Now that I've got it placed in the big picture, I think that "snake" is actually located in the estuary around the Colorado River delta essentially at sea level.