Nurse David Cifaldi Survives Montana Mountain Hike with Trekking Pole Impaled Through His Torso
A 32-year-old emergency room nurse, David Cifaldi, successfully hiked 10 miles back to safety after a trekking pole became impaled through his torso during a hike on Montana's tallest mountain. While climbing Granite Peak, Cifaldi slipped on loose rocks at 11,800 feet, causing the 44-inch steel-tipped pole to pass through his back and out his side. Drawing on his medical training, Cifaldi assessed his injuries and determined that the pole had missed all vital organs. He decided to self-rescue, choosing to hike out rather than wait for a costly helicopter rescue. Supported by two friends, the group used a satellite-based communication device to alert local authorities, who monitored his progress. After a six-hour trek across rugged terrain, Cifaldi reached the trailhead and was driven to a hospital in Billings. Doctors eventually removed the pole, which had remained in his body for nearly nine hours. Cifaldi is now recovering and faces potential surgery and medical expenses.