The Disturbing Rise of 'Alpine Divorce' in Relationships
A chilling new trend dubbed 'Alpine Divorce' is spreading across social media platforms, with women sharing harrowing accounts of being deliberately abandoned by their male partners during outdoor activities like hiking or climbing expeditions. This cruel behavior involves men walking ahead and leaving their partners behind, often in remote or dangerous locations, resulting in both emotional trauma and potential physical harm.
A Tragic Case with Fatal Consequences
In January 2025, the dangers of this trend became tragically clear when Austrian woman Kerstin Gurtner, 33, died from hypothermia after her boyfriend Thomas Plamberger, 37, left her on a mountainside. Plamberger, an experienced climber, was convicted of manslaughter this month following the incident. During court proceedings, it was revealed he had previously subjected another girlfriend to similar abandonment, though she survived the ordeal.
Social Media Amplifies Disturbing Stories
TikTok user @everafteriya helped bring attention to this behavior by documenting her experience across four videos, detailing how her partner repeatedly walked off and left her behind on a walking trail. Her final video, viewed by over 19 million people, carried the caption: 'POV: you go on a hike with him in the mountains but he leaves you alone and you realise he never liked you to begin with.'
The comments section revealed countless similar stories, with individuals describing being abandoned 'on a hike out of the Grand Canyon,' 'left by the side of the road,' or deserted on trails. On X, user @MibshaD shared footage of herself wandering alone during a hike in the Scottish Highlands while her partner was miles ahead.
Psychological Experts Condemn the Behavior
Psychologist Emma Kenny explains the severe implications: 'If men are really doing this, not only is it putting their partner in absolute danger, but it's also giving their partner a powerful message which is "you're disposable," and more than that "I don't care what happens to you."'
Kenny theorizes the behavior stems from either coercive control—where someone doesn't want to end the relationship but wants to teach their partner a lesson—or from genuinely viewing their partner as disposable and finding amusement in their distress. She emphasizes: 'Emotionally, on a trauma level, it's humiliating. But abusers love to humiliate victims.'
Urban Abandonment Stories Surface
The phenomenon isn't limited to wilderness settings. Hannah, 35, described how her then-boyfriend abandoned her during a city break in Berlin. 'It was January, absolutely freezing, and there was hardly anyone around,' she recalled. 'My phone had died, we were lost, and I felt quite on edge.'
At a crossing, her boyfriend dashed ahead as lights changed, disappearing from view. 'I literally couldn't see him anywhere,' Hannah said. 'I suddenly felt so vulnerable and alone. I had no idea where I was.' She stood crying until her boyfriend reappeared, laughing at her distress. The relationship ended years later, with Hannah recognizing this as part of a pattern of controlling behavior.
Legal and Safety Implications
While 'Alpine Divorce' isn't a legal term, experts note that hiking companions have a duty of care toward each other. Intentionally leaving someone in a situation where their survival is threatened could lead to prosecution for criminal negligence. The trend highlights how social media can both expose harmful behaviors and potentially dilute serious messages through trendification, though platforms also provide community support for survivors.
