I WAS watching a news report where a woman was explaining a horrific hiking experience she had with her ex-husband. She and her husband went hiking on an isolated, mountainous trail. She explained that he planned this hike for them to do as a couple and, as they hiked, she grew tired and decided it was enough for her and that she wanted to go back. She explained that she wanted them to go back together, but he insisted on finishing the trail without her. He ventured on, and she eventually lost track of his location and tried to make her way back, with no prior hiking experience. She became lost and, when he finished the hike, he did not try to locate her. There was no report to the police, but eventually she made her way back after a few days. After investigations were done, it was found that her husband had planned to leave her there with the hope that she would not find her way out. I heard the term “Alpine Divorce” being referenced for this unfortunate event, and as I researched, I found that many women from across the world also experienced this phenomenon.

The term actually originated over a century ago. It was coined in a 1893 short story by Scottish-Canadian writer Robert Barr, which satirically detailed an unhappy husband plotting to push his wife off a cliff in the Swiss Alps to end his marriage. It occurs when one partner abandons the other during outdoor activities such as hikes. This can happen after arguments or can be premeditated, as in the case study I shared. As more women come forward about their experiences, they realise it is not an isolated experience and that many others have experienced similar situations. It is why I decided to write about it this week, because it sounds like such a dramatic term.

However, it highlights communication gaps and a major safety concern during outdoor activities with partners or friends. Being left alone without navigation or adequate clothing can quickly lead to hypothermia, getting lost, or injury.

It appears to be mainly associated with hiking incidents. However, it goes beyond a hiking trail or mountainous view. It shows how a challenging environment can reveal secrets and expose cracks in a relationship. What makes it so difficult to wait on or slow down for your partner if they are tired? To ensure that they are safe and that you do not abandon them in the wilderness? Harsh environments create communication challenges and when there is conflict between two partners, what happens then?

I think if you have doubts about your partner’s ability to remain patient and supportive during an outdoor adventure, you should not venture out. I think the inability to trust them before the hiking trail also reveals a lot about the relationship to begin with.

Some people speculate that Alpine Divorce is largely about power and control. When someone abandons their partner in a very challenging situation, it creates vulnerabilities and safety concerns. It leaves the other person feeling unsupported, unsafe and even insignificant. I must point out that this phenomenon sometimes occurs without intention. Some partners genuinely do not mean to put the other in harm’s way.

However, I wanted to highlight this phenomenon, hoping that women, particularly in Guyana, can be mindful when visiting ecotourism and outdoor sites. In my research, I have found no reported cases of this in Guyana. However, as trends rise and change, so too do the mindsets of perpetrators. As such, I hope you remain vigilant and alert at all times during outdoor gatherings and activities moving forward. Ensure you share your location with other family members, remain self-reliant by carrying your own supplies, and observe your environment carefully.

Perhaps the most important lesson from Alpine Divorce is that adversity acts as a mirror. Whether on a mountain trail, during a financial crisis, or through everyday disagreements, difficult moments reveal character. They show whether individuals view challenges as something to face together or as obstacles that justify leaving someone behind.

The mountain is not the problem. The argument is not the problem. The real question is what people choose to do when faced with discomfort. In the end, the strongest relationships are not those that avoid challenges, but those in which both partners remain committed to walking the difficult path together.