David Cifaldi, a 32-year-old nurse, was impaled through the torso by a trekking pole during a July 20 ascent of Granite Peak about 10 miles into the climb. After confirming the pole had not punctured his chest, he and two friends hiked more than 10 miles down over roughly six and a half hours to reach help. Cifaldi was taken to hospital, transferred to Intermountain Health in Billings where the pole was removed, and he remains under care and may need further surgery. He says he feels "very lucky" and plans to return to finish the climb next year.
32-Year-Old Nurse Impaled by Trekking Pole Hikes More Than 10 Miles Down Granite Peak to Get Help
David CifaldiCredit: KCENNews/YouTube
A routine climb turned into a harrowing survival story for David Cifaldi, a 32-year-old nurse from Billings, Montana, after a trekking pole punctured his torso during an ascent of Granite Peak on July 20.
About 10 miles into the climb up the 12,799-foot summit, Cifaldi slipped on loose rock and one of his poles drove through his latissimus muscle, protruding from both sides. Drawing on his medical training, he carefully checked his breathing to confirm the pole had not penetrated his chest cavity or lungs and determined the injury was likely a soft-tissue wound.
Impromptu First Aid and a Long Descent
With the pole still embedded, Cifaldi and two friends began the challenging trek back down. He fashioned a sling from the chest strap of his running vest while a companion walked behind to monitor for bleeding. The group navigated snowfields, boulder fields and rough terrain, covering more than 10 miles in roughly six and a half hours to reach a trailhead.
Throughout the descent the hikers used humor and teamwork to stay focused; friends photographed the wound so Cifaldi could better assess it and one friend later posted on a GoFundMe page that the pole "went all the way through his lat, sticking out both ends, with roughly 8 inches between the two holes." Near Mystic Lake he even asked a companion to warn approaching parties so children would not see the injury.
Medical Care and Recovery
After reaching the trailhead, Cifaldi was taken to a local hospital and later transferred to Intermountain Health in Billings, where doctors safely removed the pole. He continues to receive care and may require additional surgery. Reflecting on the incident, Cifaldi told local media he feels "very lucky," noting that a shift of just a few inches could have led to a far worse outcome.
Despite the ordeal, Cifaldi told Backpacker magazine he plans to return to Granite Peak next year to finish the summit attempt.
Sources: KTMF, Backpacker, GoFundMe and local reporting.
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