Women vow ‘never hiking with a man’ again as viral claims expose a bizarre mountain betrayal

There’s a really unsettling conversation happening online right now, with women vowing to “never hike with a man” again after a slew of viral claims exposed a bizarre phenomenon called ‘Alpine divorce’. This isn’t just about a bad date; it’s sparked outrage and genuine concern over men allegedly abandoning women during hikes.

The concept of ‘Alpine divorce’ is quickly gaining traction across social media. According to The Daily Dot, it refers to the disturbing idea of ending a relationship by taking a partner into the mountains and then either leaving them to their fate or actively orchestrating their demise. 

It’s unclear exactly where the term originated, but it pops up in a 19th-century short story by Robert Barr called An Alpine Divorce, where a man plots to kill his wife during a trip to the Swiss Alps. This debate exploded after a video was posted on TikTok of a woman claiming her boyfriend abandoned her on a hike went viral.

These women are angry and are making sure everyone knows

One X user, @hell_line0, said, “Just saw a TikTok of a girl whose boyfriend abandoned her during a hike… The comments were all about how this is a thing multiple men do. It’s so common it’s called Alpine Divorce and there are support groups for it…All I can say is w** is wrong with men??? Why would you ever consider abandoning someone that way? I’m mortified.”

Another TikToker @everafteriya posted a video last week that racked up over two million views. She shared that she went on a mountain hike with a man who left her by herself, leading her to the realization “he never liked you to begin with.” She later clarified that the man wanted to “get to the top of the mountain before other people on the trail, so he said let’s run.” They got split up because he ran much faster than she did.

The outrage is palpable in the comments across various platforms. Other videos from women claiming similar experiences of being left behind on trails by their boyfriends are emerging, raising questions about women in unhealthy and problematic relationships. A popular multi-part video series in 2024 caused a massive uproar on TikTok before it was eventually taken down. 

This month, an Austrian climber was convicted of manslaughter after abandoning his girlfriend, on Grossglockner, the country’s highest peak, in January 2025. Kerstin Gurtner, 33, tragically died of hypothermia. During the trial, it was revealed that he had done the same thing to a previous girlfriend two years prior, though she survived. 

The accused, who even penned a touching tribute on social media, is said to be an excellent Alpinist. He led Kerstin, a less experienced climber, on the perilous ascent despite the brutal winter conditions.