Montana man hikes out of the mountains to get help after he was impaled by a trekking pole
Summary
David Cifaldi was hiking Montana’s Granite Peak when he slipped and got a trekking pole stuck through his side. After checking his injury and using a satellite device to call for help, he and his friends hiked about 10 miles down the mountain to reach safety before getting medical care.Key Facts
- David Cifaldi was climbing Montana’s highest peak, Granite Peak, with two friends.
- He slipped and the steel tip of his trekking pole went through the flesh under his left arm and out his back.
- The pole missed vital organs, causing a serious but not immediately life-threatening injury.
- Cifaldi, a nurse who works in wound care, assessed his injury and found little pain or blood and that the pole was stable.
- The group used a Garmin inReach satellite communicator to inform local authorities and plan a self-rescue.
- They hiked about 10 miles and descended 5,000 feet over six hours along an unmarked path to reach a trailhead.
- A friend had a vehicle waiting at the trailhead to take them to receive medical treatment.
- The incident happened near Roscoe, Montana, on July 20, 2026, and local search and rescue teams monitored the situation.
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