239. Ever heard of Alpine divorce?
A strange term has been gaining popularity on social media. It originated from a TikTok video last month where a woman shared that she was left alone on a hike after a man who had invited her there abandoned her. Since TikTok is banned in India, I haven't watched the video.
According to a media report, the woman said that everything occurred during a recent hike with a date in the North McCullough Wilderness area of southern Nevada. She explained that her date rushed ahead to reach the summit before other hikers and left her behind to catch up on the trail.
She was not the only one who experienced this. Some women joined the discussion and mentioned that being left by a partner during a hike or outdoor activity is surprisingly common, calling it “alpine divorce.”
However, the word is not a newly coined term. The phrase originates from the title of an 1893 short story by Scottish-Canadian author Robert Barr about a man who plans to kill his wife while traveling in the Swiss Alps.
Following the news becoming widely known, numerous individuals shared their stories. In February of this year, an Austrian climber was found guilty of gross negligent manslaughter after his girlfriend, believed to be less experienced in climbing, died from freezing on Austria’s highest mountain in 2025.
A group has been created where girls share experiences and suggest how to take care of themselves if necessary, such as leaving at the first sign of disrespect or crossed boundaries.
A girl pointed out that the ability to leave someone behind in dangerous or frightening situations is seen as a brave act and can be very tempting for abusive individuals. Another person stressed that no relationship is worth it if you don't have basic physical or emotional safety.
The news included a list of tips for staying safe while hiking with others. I find this story really amusing and am surprised at how much the world has advanced, leaving my generation behind.
However, the term Alpine Divorce sounds romantic.