David Cifaldi and his two hiking companions were crossing Montana’s ominous Froze-to-Death Plateau and approaching the top of the state’s highest peak when their adventure took a bizarre and dangerous turn.

David Cifaldi, a wound nurse, had been hiking Montana’s tallest mountain with friends

David Cifaldi was scaling Granite Peak with two friends on July 20 when he lost his footing on the rocky terrain and fell onto his trekking pole.