The death of a 33-year-old female mountaineer on the Stüdlgrat ridge in January 2025 not only occupied a court but also sparked a broad societal debate that extends beyond the mountaineering community. Now, Michi Wohlleben, professional alpinist and mountain guide, has offered a factual and nuanced perspective on the case in a video on his YouTube channel.
On his YouTube channel, Wohlleben regularly discusses "close calls" in alpine terrain – situations from his own experience that could have ended badly, from which he draws important lessons. He also previously commented on the heavily criticized video by YouTuber Magnus Midtbo, in which Midtbo soloed the Matterhorn. In his latest video, the 35-year-old mountain guide and professional alpinist addresses the Großglockner incident, which has garnered media attention for months and brought key questions about mountaineering to the forefront of public awareness. After the video's release, we spoke with Michi Wohlleben about his commentary on the events and about a point he felt compelled to add.
The Großglockner incident: What happened?
To briefly recap the facts of the case: In January 2025, Kerstin G. died while attempting to climb the Großglockner via the Stüdlgrat ridge. Her partner, Thomas P., left her approximately 50 meters below the summit, where she froze to death during the night. On February 19, 2026, he was convicted of negligent homicide by the Innsbruck Regional Court and sentenced to a five-month suspended sentence and a fine of €9.600 – the verdict is not yet legally binding, as both sides have filed appeals.
The case from the perspective of a professional mountaineer
From an alpinist's perspective, Wohlleben focuses primarily on the tour planning: the late start, the difficult winter conditions, and the overall slow progress had significantly delayed the rope team's schedule. "In such situations, a scenario can quickly escalate – especially in cold, windy conditions and with darkness falling," Wohlleben said.
A central point of discussion remains the decision to leave one's partner behind. This is widely considered a clear mistake. However, Wohlleben disagrees with the blanket statement that no one should ever be left behind on the mountain. He knows of numerous cases where a climbing partner descended to get help, enabling the rescue of the person left behind. At the same time, he emphasizes that this was probably not the right decision in that particular instance, and that all decisions in high mountain terrain must be evaluated based on the specific situation.
According to Wohlleben, the incident fundamentally underscores a central principle of alpinism: personal responsibility. Unlike guided tours, in private climbing parties, responsibility lies with all participants, says Reinhold Messner, whose statement on the Glockner incident is discussed in the video. Wohlleben himself shares this opinion and advocates for realistic self-assessment, careful planning, and clear agreements – especially regarding turnaround times and worst-case scenarios.
Wohlleben advises mountaineers to imagine these worst-case scenarios before embarking on a tour. If you can safely descend the mountain in every possible situation – excluding unexpected rockfalls, etc. – then you can attempt the tour. If not, you should choose an easier route.
"I should have highlighted that."
In retrospect, Wohlleben explains that he omitted an important aspect of the case and now regrets it: the issue of "alpine divorce" and the testimony of the defendant's ex-girlfriend, who reported that he had also once left her alone on the mountain. "I didn't want to speculate," he explains in our interview, "I simply hadn't considered this issue at all."
The term "Alpine Divorce," currently circulating on social media platforms, doesn't refer to an intention to kill—even though the term originates from a short story by Robert Barr from 1893, in which a husband plans precisely that. In its current usage, it describes something far more commonplace, yet still serious: situations in which a person is left alone by their partner on a mountain tour or hike. Sometimes it's because the other person is walking too fast and doesn't wait, sometimes because an argument escalates. It's primarily about recklessness and a lack of care in the mountains.
Stories of this kind hadn't been on his radar until then, so he was all the more surprised by the many accounts that reached him after his analysis of the case. Wohlleben himself knows the feeling of being uncertain on the mountain and wanting to turn back while his climbing partner urges him onward, and can therefore understand how much fear is involved in such moments. This makes it all the more important to him to give this topic space, even retrospectively. Because the sheer number of stories shows him: it's not an isolated incident.
Click here for the video:
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Credits: Cover image and video by Michi Wohlleben