Alpine divorce: Women share chilling accounts of being abandoned on remote hiking trails

The term ‘Alpine divorce’ has been spreading across social media as women share terrifying, near-death encounters while outdoors with their partners.

According to CNN, the phrase describes a situation where an experienced climber or hiker abandons their less experienced partner in a remote, dangerous area, leaving them vulnerable to harsh weather conditions.

The online discussion gained widespread attention following a tragic incident in Austria involving a couple climbing Grossglockner, the country’s highest peak.

Kerstin G froze to death after allegedly being abandoned by her partner, while 37-year-old Thomas P was later found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter.

According to The Guardian, he received a five-month suspended prison sentence and was fined Sh1.4 million (€9,400).

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The court found that the Salzburg chef caused her death in January 2025 through extreme carelessness after night fell just 50 meters below the summit.

Thomas claimed he left the 33-year-old on a windy ridge to seek help, but failed to explain why he never wrapped her in the emergency blanket later found untouched in her backpack.

Prosecutors also accused him of ignoring calls from rescue teams despite having phone service.

“We don’t need anything … everything’s fine,” Thomas reportedly told rescuers.

During the trial, an ex-girlfriend revealed a disturbing pattern of behaviour.

According to the German newspaper Bild, she testified that Thomas had abandoned her on the same mountain in 2023 because she was moving too slowly.

“So that was the last mountain expedition we undertook together,” she told the court.

Following the tragedy, more women began sharing similar experiences online.

On TikTok, a user identified as Iya recounted how her ex-boyfriend sprinted ahead during a hike in the North McCullough Wilderness to race strangers, leaving her behind.

“I called out his name but he did not turn around,” Iya said, recalling how he laughed when she finally caught up.

“He called me thirty minutes later asking where I was. When I called him out for leaving me behind, he said, ‘why didn’t you catch up stupid.’”

Another user, Anya Bzhedugova, posted a video after allegedly being stranded alone in a forest when her partner suddenly deserted her.

“So, he left me alone in the woods,” she said.

The trend has since sparked outrage online, with many arguing the behaviour goes beyond ordinary relationship problems.

On Instagram, Elizabeth Coleman wrote: “The fact that it’s called ‘alpine divorce’ and not just attempted manslaughter/murder is baffling to me.”