NewsUS NewsHikingDavid Cifaldi was scaling Montana's tallest mountain with his two friends when he lost his footing on the rocky terrain and as he fell his trekking pole penetrated his body07:03, 29 Jul 2026Updated 07:05, 29 Jul 2026A 32-year-old nurse was involved in a freak accident as he climbed Montana's tallest mountain with two friends.‌What should have been an adventure for three friends turned into a nightmare when David Cifaldi lost his footing on the rocky terrain and fell onto his trekking pole.‌Cifaldi and his two friends set out on their climb of Granite Peak on July 20 but their hike didn't exactly go to plan. Cifaldi told KTMF: "It was just kind of a freak thing, something you’d more expect to roll your ankle versus having a catastrophic injury."‌Given his condition, he made the call to self-rescue rather than wait for extraction — hiking 10 miles back to the trailhead. They navigated the rugged mountain descent all while the pole remained lodged in his body.The nurse fashioned his running vest's chest strap into a makeshift sling, while one friend stayed behind him to keep an eye on any bleeding. The journey took a grueling six-and-a-half hours.‌The pole penetrated Cifaldi's side, piercing his lat and sticking out both ends, with roughly eight inches separating the two wounds, according to a GoFundMe created by his friend.After reaching the trailhead Cifaldi was taken to hospital where doctors miraculously managed to removed the trekking pole without complications.‌The GoFundMe page was set up by Jesse Ross, who was one of the two friends he completed the hike with. Jesse wrote: "On Monday, July 20, David, myself, and one other friend left the trailhead at 3:30 AM for a car-to-car attempt of Granite Peak, Montana's highest point."The route took us past Mystic Lake, up onto the Froze to Death Plateau, and across roughly 10 miles of rugged alpine terrain toward Tempest Peak."Describing the horror fall Jesse explained: "At about 11,800 feet, we stopped to plan our approach to the saddle. In that moment, David stepped on a small loose rock, dropped his trekking pole, and fell forward — landing in the one position that turned an ordinary stumble into a serious injury. The pole went all the way through his lat, sticking out both ends, with roughly 8 inches between the two holes."Article continues belowFrom the horror fall to the removal of the poll Jesse said it was only around 8-9 hours. Cifaldi is now receiving ongoing care and facing significant medical bills.You can donate to the GoFundMe page by clicking here.Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌Hiking