A dark social media trend called "alpine divorce" has gone viral, after a TikTok video of a woman claiming her boyfriend left her alone on a mountain hike racked up millions of views. The term refers to one partner, usually a man, abandoning the other in a remote or dangerous outdoor setting, sometimes with fatal results. The phrase traces back to a 1893 short story by author Robert Barr, in which a husband plots to kill his wife during a trip to the Swiss Alps.
The trend gained renewed attention after an Austrian climber was convicted of manslaughter in January 2025 following the death of his girlfriend, who was left near the summit of Austria's highest mountain in freezing winds without an emergency blanket. The surprise came from many women who’ve come forward on social media to share similar stories, with some noting that support groups even exist for those who have experienced this kind of abandonment.
Source: USA Today