A hiking trip to the top of Montana‘s highest mountain turned into a life-threatening ordeal after a nurse fell onto his own trekking pole. Instead of waiting for a rescue helicopter, David Cifaldi assessed his injuries, kept the pole in place, and hiked more than 10 miles back to safety with two friends by his side.
The accident occurred on July 20, 2026, while Cifaldi and friends Jesse Ross and Brad Reich attempted to summit Granite Peak in the Beartooth Mountains. Granite Peak rises more than 12,700 feet and is known for its steep, rocky terrain and challenging conditions. According to Montana television station KTMF, the group had carefully planned to reach the summit and return the same day before the hike took an unexpected turn.
Nearly 10 miles into the climb, Cifaldi slipped while crossing rocks near the summit. Speaking to local news outlet KTMF, he recalled, “I just slipped on some rocks. It was just kind of a freak thing.”
The pole pierced his side, missed vital organs
When he rolled over, Cifaldi realized one trekking pole remained on the ground while the other had pierced his side. The pole entered below his left arm and exited through his lower back, according to KTMF. Despite the alarming injury, the pole narrowly missed his vital organs.
Cifaldi’s medical background as an emergency room wound care nurse proved critical. He told KTMF that his training immediately helped him evaluate the situation. After checking his breathing and determining the injury did not appear immediately life-threatening, he decided the safest course was to leave the pole in place and hike back down the mountain rather than attempt to remove it.
While Cifaldi made that assessment, Ross used a Garmin satellite communicator to alert the authorities. The three men then retraced their route over rugged boulder fields, snowfields and steep switchbacks. Ross walked ahead to clear the path and warn approaching hikers, while Reich stayed behind Cifaldi and monitored the wound throughout the descent.
The descent took about six and a half hours. After reaching the trailhead, Cifaldi first went to a hospital in Columbus before doctors transferred him to Intermountain Health in Billings, where surgeons safely removed the trekking pole. Cifaldi credited his friends for helping him make it off the mountain safely.
He told KTMF he did not believe he could have completed the hike alone because they helped monitor his condition and safely guided him over difficult terrain. Now recovering at home, Cifaldi said he feels fortunate the injury missed major organs.
He also said that only a slight difference in the pole’s path could have produced a far more serious outcome. He hopes to recover fully and return to caring for patients soon.
Despite the traumatic experience, the climb has not ended Cifaldi’s interest in Granite Peak. According to interviews with KTMF and other outlets, he plans to return after he recovers to finish the summit attempt that ended in a split-second accident.
Published: Jul 27, 2026 11:25 am