Women are increasingly sharing stories of being abandoned by their partners on hiking trails, a phenomenon dubbed 'alpine divorce'. Social media has amplified accounts of men leaving their dates in precarious situations, often leading to breakups. Experts suggest the trend may stem from male ego and poor communication.
One woman, identified only as MJ, recalled being left behind on a hike in Zion National Park five years ago. Her partner, frustrated by her slower pace, hiked ahead and later descended with another woman. MJ described the experience as 'small T trauma' and only recently recognised it as alpine divorce after seeing the term on TikTok.
In a viral TikTok with over 4.2 million likes, a woman sobs as she descends a rock formation alone, saying, 'He left me by myself, I should have never come with him.' Commenters shared similar stories, including a 12-hour solo trek out of the Grand Canyon and getting lost in the woods after being ditched.
Julie Ellison, former editor-in-chief of Climbing magazine, noted the prevalence of such incidents, attributing them to 'male ego' that is not necessarily malicious but often leaves partners vulnerable. A recent case in Austria saw a man convicted of gross negligence manslaughter after leaving his girlfriend to die on a mountain. A former girlfriend testified he had abandoned her on a trail in 2023.
Outdoor culture's emphasis on strength and independence may contribute to this behaviour, experts say. The trend highlights a darker side of adventure dating, where safety and partnership are compromised.
