Nurse's Mountain Survival
Montana Nurse Impaled by Trekking Pole on Peak, Walks Off Mountain for Recovery
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A Montana nurse survived a terrifying freak accident on Granite Peak — the state's tallest mountain — after his own trekking pole impaled him at roughly 12,000 feet above sea level. Despite the injury, David Cifaldi walked off the mountain under his own power, stunning rescuers and friends alike, according to KTTC.
Cifaldi was taken to a hospital in Columbus, Montana, then transferred to Intermountain Health in Billings for further treatment. He is now recovering at home and says he hopes to return to caring for patients soon, WOWT reported.
How a Trekking Pole Became a Life-Threatening Hazard
Trekking poles are standard hiking gear — lightweight sticks used to keep balance on rough terrain. But during Cifaldi's climb up Granite Peak, his pole turned into a danger. In what friends and rescuers called a 'freak' accident, the pole impaled him during the ascent. The exact circumstances of the fall or slip were not fully detailed, but the injury was serious enough to require emergency contact with rescue teams, WBBJTV reported.
Despite being impaled at 12,000 feet — far from any road or hospital — Cifaldi stayed calm. His medical training as a nurse likely helped him manage the situation in those critical first moments on the mountain.
Friends Used Satellite Device to Trigger Mountain Rescue
Cifaldi was not alone on the climb. His friends Brad Reich and Jesse Ross were with him when the accident happened. The trio had no cell service at that altitude, so Reich and Ross used a Garmin satellite communicator to call for help, according to WEAU. Satellite communicators work like GPS distress beacons — they send location and emergency messages without needing a cell tower.
Search and rescue teams responded to the scene. But in a remarkable turn, Cifaldi did not need to be carried out. He walked off the mountain on his own two feet — an outcome that surprised many given the nature of his injury, WSMV reported.
Nurse Treated in Columbus, Then Transferred to Billings
After reaching the base of the mountain, Cifaldi was transported to a hospital in Columbus, Montana. Given the severity of an impalement injury, doctors there arranged for him to be moved to Intermountain Health in Billings, a larger facility better equipped to handle trauma cases, according to KAIT8.
Cifaldi has since been discharged and is recovering at home. He has expressed that his focus is on healing. He also said he looks forward to getting back to work — and back to caring for the patients who rely on him, Fox8Live reported.
Granite Peak Climb Is One of Montana's Toughest Challenges
Granite Peak sits at 12,799 feet and is the highest point in Montana. It is considered one of the harder state highpoints in the US. The route involves steep rocky terrain, and conditions can change fast. Accidents at that altitude are especially dangerous because rescue teams can take hours to reach injured climbers, according to KKTV.
Cifaldi's ability to walk out under his own power — after a pole impalement at that height — is being called extraordinary. His story is also a reminder of why carrying a satellite communicator on remote climbs can make the difference between life and death, 1011Now noted.
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