Montana Hiker Impaled by Trekking Pole on Granite Peak

There are some days when you'll be hiking in Montana's wilderness, and you might have one of those experiences where your foot slips, a piece of loose rock falls beneath you, and/or you find yourself staring down disaster right before it happens.

For the most part, you brush yourself off and move forward.

However, sometimes Mother Nature decides to do something else entirely.

man raising both hands on mountain cliff with snow covered mountain view

One man, who lives in Billings, made headlines recently after what can only be described as one of the craziest hiking disasters I've ever read about. While hiking Granite Peak (the highest point in Montana), David Cifaldi fell and then somehow found a way to stick his own trekking pole into his body. His pole went in near his left arm and came out the back of his upper torso, narrowly avoiding serious damage to internal organs.

That was only the beginning.

KTVQ/YouTube

Here is where things start to seem just short of miraculous.

David Cifaldi is an Emergency Room Nurse. He evaluated himself and decided that it appeared that the wound was limited to soft tissue. So instead of sitting around waiting for a helicopter to come pick him up, David and his two fellow hikers simply turned their packs around and began the 6-hour-plus trip (over snow, rocks, and rough terrain) to the trailhead.

Montana Will Always Leave You Feeling Small

This type of experience reminds us all that no matter how many years you have been in Montana, Montana does not recognize how many years you have been exploring her wilds.

Granite Peak is by no means an easy "weekend" hike. Many areas we hunt, fish, camp, etc., each year also contain hazards beyond what the average person may realize exist. All it takes is one misstep, one loose rock, or one random accident to transform what could have otherwise been a fantastic day into a full-blown survival story.

group of man walking on mountain

I remember several years ago breaking my leg while out elk hunting. My hike back to the truck was far from pleasant, and I realized just how fast things can turn south once you are miles from help. In Montana's wilderness, there aren't ambulances waiting around every corner. Oftentimes getting out requires taking one very painful step at a time.

Fortunately, David had two buddies with him who helped keep a cool head, and they were able to use David's ER nursing background to make good decisions under pressure. However, most importantly, he lived to tell the tale.

It is a truly amazing example of physical and mental toughness. But I would prefer that this experience serves as a reminder of what can happen rather than an inspiration.