Hiker Survives Impalement by Trekking Pole During 10-Mile Mountain Descent
While hiking Montana’s Granite Peak with companions, David Cifaldi suffered a severe injury when he slipped and was impaled by a trekking pole. In a remarkable stroke of luck, the pole bypassed all vital organs. Instead of requesting a helicopter evacuation, Cifaldi chose to trek 10 miles down the mountain on foot. Leveraging his professional expertise as a wound care nurse, he was able to assess and manage his injury independently throughout the grueling descent.
