Dangerous trend of alpine divorce

These days, a dangerous trend called ‘Alpine Divorce’ is spreading rapidly on social media. This is not a legal divorce but a cruel way of leaving your partner alone by taking them to dense forests, snowy mountains or remote trekking routes. In this process, one partner leaves the other midway, which puts their life in danger. At such places, the situation becomes even more serious due to unavailability of mobile network and unknown routes.

Dangerous way to separate from partner

In many cases, people become victims of cold, hunger or accidents or lose their lives. Women on social media are sharing their experiences of how their partners suddenly started walking fast and left them behind, forcing them to return alone. The term originated from ‘An Alpine Divorce’, a suspense story written by Robert Barr in 1893, in which a husband tries to kill his wife by taking her to the mountain.

Viral TikTok video in February 2026

Recently, a TikTok video went viral in February 2026, in which a woman revealed that her boyfriend left her alone while they were hiking on Valentine’s Day. The video was viewed by millions of people and many women shared their similar stories. From this a trend called ‘Alpine Divorce’ emerged. Additionally, a case in Austria made headlines in January 2025, where a climber was held responsible for the death of his girlfriend after leaving her alone on the highest mountain.

The court convicted him of murder by negligence and sentenced him. Experts say this behavior reflects control, emotional cruelty and avoidance of conflict in relationships. Some people consider it simply a dramatic way to break up, while most consider it a form of relationship abuse. People are warning on social media to be careful while going on outdoor dates. Always share your location, tell someone where you are going, don’t go alone and trust your intuition if your partner’s behavior seems suspicious.