AITA for “abandoning helpless women in the wilderness”?

A Reddit user shared a story about encountering two distressed women on a hiking trail, one of whom was loudly wailing over a blister. Despite offering first-aid supplies, the situation escalated when the women demanded hands-on assistance and accused him of being fatphobic for not complying.

The user, who works for a state park system but was off duty at the time, decided to leave, prompting accusations of “abandoning helpless women in the wilderness.” Read the full story below to see if he handled the situation fairly.

‘ AITA for “abandoning helpless women in the wilderness”?’

This happened in September but came up in a conversation with friends yesterday. They were divided on whether I’d done something unethical. I, mid-30s M, work for my USA state’s park system (big forests and wilderness areas type parks, that is). I spend most of my time outdoors and do a ton of hiking.

The day this happened I was finishing up a long, challenging hike on my day off at a nearby large wildlife refuge that is privately owned (i.e., not a state park/my place of employment, though I know everyone who works there). The refuge has a trail system with four trails of differing difficulties and lengths, from blue (wide, easy, about 2.5 miles) to red (difficult, 16.5 miles).

All trails loop and share the same start/end. So a person like me doing red will spend some time on the trails with those doing the other ones. I was in the last mile or so before the parking lot and was pretty bushed from the long trail. I heard really loud screaming/moaning up ahead and ran to see what was happening.

I came upon two women, who I’d learn were mother and daughter (hard to tell ages, I’m guessing 50s and 30s. Not elderly). Both, especially the mother were heavy-set (this may matter). The mother was the one wailing as she sat on a rock. I was concerned (she’s shrieking in a forest, after all). I learned that, oh yes, she’s “horribly” injured.

In the mile and a half they’d done on blue, she had developed a blister. Don’t get me wrong, blisters hurt, I know very well. But I truly thought she was being murdered when I heard her. I didn’t say anything negative. I have a nicely stocked med kit in my pack, with all sorts of options for blisters, so I offered her whatever she likes.

She took her shoe off and stuck her leg at me, clearly indicating that I’m to treat the blister. Yeah, no. Not happening. No strange lady feet in the forest for me. I politely refused and again offered her the med kit. Mother starts moaning and crying. Daughter speaks up for the first time, something along the lines of “just do it.”

I refused again and put some blister bandages on the rock. I made to move on, and Mother demanded water, very rudely. Yeah, no, I have a hydration pack. She isn’t putting her mouth on my bite valve. I’m now fully over helping these people. I made to leave (“well, you’re almost to the trail end, so I’ll be going”), and she demanded I help her out of the forest.

Without waiting, she’s on her feet and leaning her full weight on me, with an arm around my neck/shoulders. She weighed at least double what I do, and the way she flung herself on me wrenched my back. I moved away quickly, she lost her balance a bit but didn’t fall. I said that I was leaving, that we’re less than a mile from parking, and that I was done with this encounter.

We all had cell service, so I told them that if she needed to be carried out because of a f**king blister, they could call people paid to deal with their s**t (I said both curse words). They scream at me for abandoning helpless women in the wilderness and call me names as I walk on. The daughter called me f**phobic (not sure why, I never said anything at all related to that).

I yelled back that I just wasn’t interested in their brand of b**lshit. I got to my car ten minutes or so later and left. On my way out of the park I stopped at the office. I know everyone there and gave them a heads up about the women. Some of my friends said I did nothing wrong. Two thought I was the AH because I work in state parks (not this place though!) and the women were clearly out of their element.. So, AITA?

Here’s how people reacted to the post:

Useful_Context_2602 −  NTA. A blister is not debilitating, especially with a proper blister plaster

AWildAndWoolyWastrel −  A gentleman would have offered to put her out of her misery.

CrazyOldBag −  As I read this post, my eyebrows started creeping higher and higher over each successive “wtf?” behavior from these women. The eyebrows have now resolved into hair extensions clinging frantically to the back of my neck.

NTA, OP. You were FAR more helpful than what they deserved and much more polite than many would have been. Any friends you have who are ragging on you are clearly suffering from rectal glaucoma; you had no duty of care to those women, and they certainly did nothing to elicit sympathy.

geekylace −  As a hiker who often does beginner trails, that behaviour is embarrassing and entitled af. I honestly would expect nothing less from children, not grown ass women who aren’t actually helpless, just f**king entitled and lazy. NTA but your friends who called you one are either idiots or also entitled.

BulbasaurRanch −  NTA at all. Completely ridiculous behaviour from them. Your friends who think you did wrong – you should question their judgement going forward. Totally wrong in every regard.

lunar-junkie −  NTA. These woman pushed and crossed your personal boundaries nearly a dozen times. These aren’t “helpless” woman, and I hate when other women push the narrative of us being helpless? You can care for your own blister? You can’t make it through a hike without a man present? Are we serious??

Their behavior seems extremely disturbing and honestly I would’ve reacted in the same way and I believe majority of people would’ve as well. Doesn’t matter if they were “out of their element”. If you’re gonna go do something then go do it. If you know you can’t handle something then don’t do it.

I’d understand if one of the ladies was seriously injured and needed medical attention….but a blister? Sir, you did what you could without crossing your own boundaries and to put it plain and simple “being someone’s b**ch”. You are definitely not the a**hole.

SurroundMiserable262 −  Haha. This is ridiculous. 1. It was a f**king blister. Get over it. Walk back to the car and reassess your life choices. 2. You offered blister patches. She wanted you to do it for her? Err no. Not a train medical professional (even if you were head of surgery I wouldn’t be providing medical care so she could sue you, she seems like that kind of Karen).

3. Demanding water from you? Not asking. Rude as f**k.  4. Just throwing herself on you and causing an injury. No not acceptable. 5. She wasn’t in danger. She could keep screaming her lungs off for some other poor sucker to fall for that bs. Or wait until it wasn’t your day off. 6. I would have said i have nothing against fat people, rude demanding people I take issue with.

quizzicalturnip −  You handled it perfectly.

maiyushi_tuturu −  NTA they were in no real danger. You offered them medical aid and they refused. They were down right rude. I would of ran too lol.

Mira_DFalco −  OMG. Nope, NTA.. A blister, seriously? These gals need to keep their drama at home. At the rate they’re going,  they’re going to wind up as a bear snack.  🐻🐻🐻 And give the poor thing indigestion.

Do you think the Redditor was justified in setting boundaries and refusing further assistance, or should he have gone the extra mile to help, given his background? How would you handle a similar situation? Share your thoughts below!