Man impaled by own trekking pole hikes 10 miles to get help

Entertainment Man impaled by own trekking pole hikes 10 miles to get help by Nathan Warby Published: Jul 27, 2026, 08:46 Save for later Save for later Pexels Get Notifications for Entertainment News A hiker managed to trek more than 10 miles back to safety after a fall left him impaled by one of his own trekking poles during a climb.

David Cifaldi was trying to reach the top of Granite Peak, the tallest mountain in Montana, with two friends when he slipped on a rock.

When he got back to his feet, he discovered one of his trekking poles had pierced his side.

Instead of attempting to remove it, the group made the decision to leave the pole in place and begin the long journey back down the mountain.

One of Cifaldi’s friends managed to alert search and rescue teams while the other stayed close behind, monitoring him throughout the descent.

Hiker walks for over 6 hours after being impaled by pole After roughly six and a half hours, the group reached the trailhead, where he was taken to hospital.

Doctors successfully removed the trekking pole, and he is now recovering at home.

Speaking to KTMF , Cifaldi described the accident as a complete fluke. “I just slipped on some rocks,” he said. “It was just kind of a freak thing.” Pexels Cifaldi, who works as a wound-care nurse, said his medical training helped him stay calm as he assessed the injury on the mountainside. “I think my nurse brain clicked on,” he explained. “As soon as I was able to self-assess and establish that this was not life-threatening right now, I was pretty convinced I was going to get off that mountain under my own power.” Although he ultimately made it back safely, Cifaldi said the outcome could easily have been much worse: “I feel very lucky.

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