Disturbing 'alpine divorce' trend men are using on their partners

In an era obsessed with wellbeing, self-care, and fitness, more and more couples are choosing early-morning mountain hikes over dinner and drinks when planning their weekends.

In light of an outdoorsy new dating term that's currently doing the rounds on social media, however, some psychologists have rallied together to issue a stern warning on the risks of an 'alpine divorce'.

Despite how it sounds, this eerie trend doesn't describe a couple deciding to call their marriage a day, mid-hike.

It actually refers to an unnerving pattern that has allegedly seen increasing amounts of women abandoned by their partners in obscure and often dangerous outdoor settings, brutally breaking up with them beforehand.

The term first caught traction last year, following the heartbreaking case of an Austrian woman named Kerstin Gurtner.

Kerstin Gurtner died of hypothermia after being left by her partner (Getty Stock Image)

In January 2025, the 33-year-old had been scaling a mountain with her long-term boyfriend and experienced climber, Thomas Plamberger. At one point during their expedition, Gurtner turned around to discover that Plamberger had fled, abandoning her on the side of a snowy peak.

Tragically, Gurtner died of hypothermia.

Plamberger was convicted of manslaughter for having purposefully left her whilst attempting to end their relationship. It also emerged during proceedings in court that he'd subjected another ex-girlfriend to the same twisted fate.

The chilling case hit headlines across the world, prompting hundreds of other women to come forward, claiming they'd been subjected to similarly sinister experiences.

Speaking to the press or sharing their experiences on social media, these victims recalled being left mentally - and sometimes, physically - injured by their other halves, who either walk on ahead of them, or abandon them entirely.

One psychologist has issued an eerie warning (Getty Stock Image)

Amongst them is TikTok star @evarefteriya, who went viral earlier this year for sharing a video from the mountains, sobbing loudly and attempting to catch her breath. She captioned the gut-wrenching video: "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."

Unsurprisingly, the revelation left her 19 million followers utterly horrified - many of whom revealed they'd undergone similar encounters with their exes.

One wrote that she'd been abandoned by her boyfriend whilst 'on a hike out of the Grand Canyon'. Another knew someone who'd been left 'by her partner on a trail', whilst a third claimed they'd once been 'left by the side of the road' by a former flame.

Addressing this seemingly common pattern, psychologist Emma Kenny told Metro: "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'."

Hundreds of women claimed they endured similar experiences (Getty Stock Image)

Asked what she reckons the intention behind this act of cruelty could be, the expert suggested attempted coercion by the perpetrator, who feels unable to end the relationship, so decides to force its termination.

Either that, or the partner actually views it as amusing to abandon their partner - something entirely sadistic in itself.

"Emotionally, on a trauma level, it’s humiliating. But abusers love to humiliate victims," Kenny concluded.