David Cifaldi, a 32-year-old nurse, was climbing Montana's Granite Peak with two friends on July 20 when he lost his footing on rocky terrain, fell, and his trekking pole penetrated his body. The pole went through his latissimus muscle, sticking out both ends with about eight inches between the two wounds, according to a GoFundMe page set up by his friend Jesse Ross.
Freak Accident on Granite Peak
Cifaldi and his friends set out from the trailhead at 3:30 AM for a car-to-car attempt of Granite Peak, Montana's highest point. The route crossed Mystic Lake, the Froze to Death Plateau, and about 10 miles of rugged alpine terrain toward Tempest Peak. At about 11,800 feet, they stopped to plan their approach to the saddle. In that moment, Cifaldi stepped on a small loose rock, dropped his trekking pole, and fell forward.
Cifaldi told KTMF: "It was just kind of a freak thing, something you’d more expect to roll your ankle versus having a catastrophic injury."
Self-Rescue Over Rugged Terrain
Given his condition, Cifaldi decided to self-rescue rather than wait for extraction. He hiked 10 miles back to the trailhead, navigating the rugged mountain descent with the pole still lodged in his body. He fashioned his running vest's chest strap into a makeshift sling, while one friend stayed behind to monitor any bleeding. The journey took six and a half hours.
Jesse Ross, who was one of the two friends on the hike, described the fall on the GoFundMe page: "The pole went all the way through his lat, sticking out both ends, with roughly 8 inches between the two holes."
Ongoing Recovery and Medical Bills
After reaching the trailhead, Cifaldi was taken to a hospital, where doctors removed the trekking pole without complications. From the fall to the removal took about 8-9 hours. Cifaldi is now receiving ongoing care and facing significant medical bills. A GoFundMe page was set up by Ross to help with expenses.
