A woman died of hypothermia after her boyfriend left her behind during a climbing trip in Austria.
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viral video on TikTok has sparked conversations about what’s being called “alpine divorces.” In the post, the text reads, “POV: you go on a hike with him in the mountains but he leaves you alone by yourself and you realize he never liked you to begin with.” The woman, everafterriya, is crying in the background as she walks down a trail. In a follow-up video, she explained that her date wanted to run to the top of the mountain. “I like to run so I wasn’t against it but also didn’t see the point. Eventually I couldn’t see him anymore because he was running faster than me!” After getting home, she blocked him.
The video has generated 25 million views, and women around the world are sharing similar experiences of dates or partners abandoning them. But it’s not as simple as walking out of a restaurant. Women have shared that their dates, boyfriends, and long-term partners have left them behind in dangerous conditions or on treacherous hikes.
@everafteriya #venting ♬ levitation – Aaron Hibell & Felsmann + Tiley
Coined after the eponymous 1893 short story by Scottish-Canadian author Robert Barr, the term refers to a situation in which a partner leaves the other behind in a remote natural setting, often while hiking or trekking. Barr’s story centers on a married couple vacationing in the Swiss Alps; during a hike, the husband plans to push his wife off a cliff. The tale ends with the wife jumping of her own volition and framing him for her death.
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In 2026, this is more than just a TikTok trend. A woman died of hypothermia after her boyfriend left her behind during a climbing trip in Austria. The man, identified as Thomas P., was climbing Austria’s highest mountain, the Grossglockner, with his girlfriend, Kerstin G., in January last year when he left her behind. She was later found frozen to death by a rescue team. The temperature was minus 8 Celsius, with winds up to 45 mph, making conditions even more severe. During the trial, it was revealed that Thomas had done the same to a previous girlfriend. He pleaded not guilty, but the experienced alpinist was found guilty of negligent manslaughter and sentenced to five months in prison and fined €9,600 ($11,000).
Not So Rare
What may sound like the plot of a fictional story is a reality for women around the world. Many have shared instances of being abandoned in remote locations, and the frequency is striking. Some also recounted how other hikers came to their rescue, helping them find their way or accompanying them back down the trail. A commenter on the original video wrote, “I ran into a girl a few years ago along the trail, clearly lost and terrified. It was the exact same situation as this except it was about 100 degrees. I shared my water and hiked her out to the trailhead. She must’ve been so scared.”
A Reddit thread is also filled with accounts of people being left behind on hikes, often due to differences in pace or experience. A search-and-rescue volunteer commented, “This is a way to (sic) common phenomenon, men leave partners behind, don’t have the ability to self regulate risk, they over estimate skills and competence.” Whether due to impatience or mismatched expectations, alpine divorces can be both dangerous and traumatic.
A Red Flag for Deeper Issues
Psychologists have weighed in on the issue. Psychology Today notes that someone who leaves a partner in a risky situation may lack empathy. It can also be a form of abuse or a sign of coercive control. Psychotherapist Jessica Ronyak told Mashable, “Taking someone to a remote location is the ultimate form of isolation and control because they’re essentially taking away all access to help, communication, or witnesses.”
Stephanie Sarkis told USA Today that people should watch for other signs of low empathy, such as dismissing needs, ridicule or indifference. “If it is someone that you feel has a lack of empathy, it’s probably in your best interest to not go on a hike alone with them or any other strenuous activity where you might be isolated.” If it happens once, she adds, it may happen again.
How to Stay Safe
Commenters have also shared practical advice for handling situations like this. One TikTok user wrote, “If this ever happens change your voicemail immediately and say where you are, who you were with, what day you and time you went etc!! When people notice you’re missing and start calling this could absolutely save your life with a dead phone or no service. Also please tell loved ones where you are going beforehand!”