The Consequences of an “Alpine Divorce,” and Why the Term Is Trending

In 1893, Scottish-Canadian author, Robert Barr, wrote a short story about an unhappy married couple that was vacationing in the Swiss Alps when the husband plots to push his wife off of a cliff. When they make it to the summit of the peak, the story takes a twist. The wife reveals that she framed him for murder before jumping off of the peak of her own volition, holding him liable.

The satirical tale is largely credited with coining the term “alpine divorce,” which is commonly used today as a description for an incident when one mountain partner abandons the other, often due to factors like differing climbing speeds and comfort levels in the mountains.

After a series of recent events, the term is on the rise. And some lawmakers are having conversations about responsibility, and who should be held liable in cases of abandonment and death.

Why Is “Alpine Divorce” Trending?

The concept of “alpine divorce” is gaining international attention after one woman shared a TikTok video claiming that her boyfriend left her behind on a hike that’s since accumulated more than 3 million views. The video racked up thousands of comments, with some hikers noting that being abandoned by a partner in the mountains is so common that there are existing support groups for women who’ve experienced this phenomenon. In some cases, commenters reflected they’d experienced a similar abandonment, ultimately forcing them to rely on the skillset of strangers to get them back to the trailhead.

Similar videos have accumulated thousands of views, leaving some hikers evaluating whether or not they should rely on a partner to guide them through challenging outdoor endeavors that they wouldn’t confidently attempt on their own. And the reality is that what may seem like a harmless judgment call can have significant consequences.

Real-World Consequences of an “Alpine Divorce”

Last week, 37-year-old Thomas Plamberger was convicted of gross negligent manslaughter after allegedly abandoning his girlfriend on a technical ascent of the 12,461-foot Grossglockner peak, resulting in a €9,600 (roughly $11,300) fine and a five-month suspended prison sentence. Plamberger left his girlfriend about 164 feet from the summit of the peak in high winds without an emergency blanket before she died of hypothermia. During Plamberger’s trial, his girlfriend’s mother came to his support, suggesting that he shouldn’t be held liable. But prosecutors felt differently, claiming that Plamberger made a series of irresponsible calls, and that he should be held accountable as the experienced climber of the party.

Plamberger has since appealed the verdict, but the incident sparked intense debates about “alpine divorces,” and whether the more skilled climber should be held liable for mountain tragedies or if responsibility rests with the individual climber.

“All mountain sports are team sports,” Tommy Campbell, a Colorado-based alpinist and rock guide, told Outside. “I think it’s a responsibility that you have to the other people that you’re with, whether you’re on a day climb on Long’s peak 20 minutes from your driveway, or you just dropped five grand on a trip to Talkeetna to try to climb Denali.”

“If you’re not capable of making the summit or finishing an objective, then you bail, even if it means having to leave a few pieces of gear at an anchor to get yourself to a rappel station to get your team back on the ground,” added Campbell.

Karsten Delap, a North-Carolina–based professional climber, guide, and rescuer told Outside that “alpine divorces” are warranted if you ever feel unsafe.

If the experienced climber makes a bad judgment call, “you have to live with it for the rest of your life,” said Campbell.

The Austrian courts’ verdict for Plamberger could set a precedent for future “alpine divorces” across the country.  “I actually think it has implications for all climbers, but obviously for guiding,” said Delap. “It sets a precedent that says if you’re more experienced than your partner, you’re responsible whether you’re a guide or not.”

Although Plamberger said that he lacked formal alpine training and learned most of his skills from online sources, prosecutors argued that he was more experienced than his girlfriend, making him responsible for them both. They also pointed to a series of decisions that he made on his trip as reasons why he should be held liable, including failing to bring proper overnight equipment and turn around at a specific time.

In the United States, there’s no legal rule that mandates that a climber should care for a stranger in mountain environments, but they can be held liable for gross negligence when abandoning a partner.