What is an "Alpine Divorce"? A phenomenon it's better to know about in advance to stay alive on a hike

The term "Alpine divorce" (Alpine divorce) is neither a legal term nor an official concept in mountaineering. It is a metaphor used to describe a situation where one person, during a hike, abandons their partner or companion in dangerous conditions. This is usually preceded by a conflict or another situation in which one participant decides to continue the route independently, disregarding the other's safety.

The history of the term begins in 1893, when the Scottish-Canadian writer Robert Barr published a short story titled "An Alpine Divorce". According to the plot, a man, unable to legally divorce his wife due to the laws of the time, decides to get rid of her during a trip to the Alps.

However, everything turns out not as he expected. The woman confesses to him that she had orchestrated everything in advance so that after her death, her husband would be accused of murder. She then throws herself off a cliff, leaving him alone with the consequences.

It was a satirical work that mocked the rigidity of Victorian Britain's marriage laws, rather than describing a real phenomenon. For over a century, this expression was rarely used outside literary circles. It only acquired its modern meaning in the mid-2020s.

Real Stories

The most well-known story associated with this term was the tragedy on the summit of Grossglockner — Austria's highest mountain.

In January 2025, 36-year-old alpinist Thomas Plamberger was ascending the summit with his 33-year-old girlfriend Kerstin Gurtner. The couple fell far behind schedule, and already in the dark, approximately 50 meters from the summit, the woman became completely exhausted.

According to the prosecution's version, Plamberger left her alone on an exposed slope, even though he had an emergency thermal blanket and a bivouac sack in his backpack that could have protected her from the cold, and went for help himself. He reported the incident to the mountain police, but, according to court documents, he did not emphasize the urgency of the situation and later stopped answering calls. When rescuers reached Kerstin the next morning, she had already died of hypothermia.

In 2026, the court found Plamberger guilty of causing death by negligence and sentenced him to five months of suspended imprisonment, as well as a fine of about 9600 euros.

Another high-profile story, which began to be associated with "Alpine divorce" in social networks, occurred in March 2025 in Hawaii. According to the investigation, anesthesiologist Gerhard Koenig took his wife Ariel on a hike along a mountain trail. On a narrow section near a cliff, he allegedly tried to push her down and inject her with a syringe, hitting the woman's head several times with a rock.

Ariel managed to survive thanks to two tourists who heard her screams and called rescuers. Koenig was arrested the same day. He denies guilt and claims that he was only defending himself, as his wife allegedly tried to push him off the trail first. The trial on charges of attempted murder is ongoing.

The phrase "Alpine divorce" gained real popularity thanks to a video published on TikTok in February 2026 by user EverAfterIya. Walking along a mountain trail, the girl recounted that the man with whom she went on a hike left her alone to be the first to reach the summit.

“You go hiking in the mountains with him, and he leaves you alone, and you suddenly realize that you were never really important to him,” the girl remarked.

@everafteriya #venting ♬ levitation - Aaron Hibell & Felsmann + Tiley

The video garnered over 31 million views and about 25 thousand comments. Later, the author reported that she returned safely and thanked for the support.

Why People Do This

Psychologists believe that various psychological mechanisms may underlie such behavior.

One of them, as Psychology Today writes, is a lack of empathy, or the ability to understand another person's feelings and foresee the consequences of one's own actions. If a person is able to put themselves in their partner's shoes, they understand that leaving them alone in a dangerous situation is not just a display of indifference, but a real threat to their life or health. However, if empathy is lacking, one's own emotions and interests can override concern for another person.

Another possible factor is the loss of emotional self-control. In a state of intense anger, irritation, or contempt, a person can act impulsively, without thinking about the consequences. If emotions were the primary cause of such an action, after they subside, the person may realize they made a mistake. But in the mountains or other dangerous conditions, even a few minutes of thoughtless actions can be very costly.

Of course, this does not mean that all instances of "Alpine divorce" are explained by these particular reasons. Each story has its own circumstances, so psychologists speak more about possible behavioral mechanisms than about a universal explanation.

How to behave in such a situation

Regardless of the cause of the conflict, safety should remain the top priority during a hike. Mountain safety experts and psychologists remind us that even a relatively simple route can quickly become dangerous: the weather can change abruptly, mobile phone reception can disappear, and losing the trail or hypothermia can lead to severe consequences.

Therefore, if a quarrel arises between hiking participants, it's better not to make decisions under the influence of emotions. Clarifying the relationship should be postponed until both are in a safe place.

If your partner has nevertheless left you alone or poses a threat themselves, the main task is to reach a safe place as quickly as possible and, if necessary, seek help.

Can warning signs be noticed in advance?

It is impossible to reliably predict such behavior. However, psychologists advise paying attention to people who regularly show indifference to the problems of others, prioritize their own interests over the needs of others, are slow to help in difficult situations, or poorly control their emotions.

This, of course, does not mean that a person will necessarily abandon their partner in danger. But it is precisely in difficult conditions that such character traits can manifest most clearly.

Therefore, experienced hikers advise against going on challenging treks with people you are not yet sure about. Before starting a route, inform loved ones about your plans, have means of communication, study the route in advance, and do not put yourself in a situation where your safety entirely depends on one person.

Ultimately, the main rule of mountain tourism remains unchanged: if people set out on a route together, they must return together. This not only reduces the risk of accidents but also best reflects the very principle of partnership — mutual responsibility and support.

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