A 32-year-old nurse impaled himself on his trekking pole while hiking Montana's Granite Peak, the state's highest mountain, and subsequently walked 10 miles back to the trailhead. The incident occurred on July 20 as David Cifaldi was ascending the 12,807-foot peak with two friends.
Cifaldi lost his footing on the rugged terrain and fell onto his trekking pole, which pierced his side and exited both ends. Roughly eight inches of the pole separated the entry and exit wounds, which penetrated his lat muscle. The pole remained lodged in his body for approximately eight to nine hours before removal.
Drawing on his emergency room nurse training, Cifaldi assessed his condition and determined that no vital organs were struck and his lung was not pierced. He then made the decision to self-rescue rather than wait for an extraction, a process he believed would incur significant ambulance costs.
"Given his condition, he made the call to self-rescue rather than wait for extraction — hiking 10 miles back to the trailhead with a trekking pole still through his body," read a GoFundMe created by a friend.
With the help of his companions, Cifaldi navigated the challenging descent. One friend followed behind to monitor for bleeding, while Cifaldi used his running vest's chest strap as a makeshift sling. During the arduous hike, the group reportedly made light of the situation, joking about making kebabs.
After approximately six-and-a-half hours, the group reached the trailhead. Cifaldi was subsequently taken to a hospital and later transferred to Intermountain Health in Billings, where the pole was removed without complications. Granite Peak is known for its difficult terrain, technical climbing, and unpredictable weather.
Cifaldi is currently recovering and may require additional surgery. He expressed feeling fortunate, noting that a slight shift in the pole's trajectory could have resulted in a far more serious outcome. A GoFundMe campaign has been established to assist with his medical expenses.
