Climber Walks Six Hours With Trekking Pole Lodged in Side to Avoid Helicopter Costs

A nurse who was impaled by his trekking pole while attempting to scale Montana’s Granite Peak hiked for over six hours to avoid expensive medical evacuation costs.

Accident on the Beartooth Plateau

The accident occurred in June on the Froze-To-Death plateau in the Beartooth Mountains of the Rocky Mountains, rising above 3,000 meters above sea level. As Cifaldi and his companions approached Montana’s highest peak, Granite Peak, he slipped and fell, impaling himself on his trekking pole.

The three climbers wanted to reach the nearly 4,000-meter-high highest peak in Montana, Granite Peak. The trail leads across a plateau intersected by numerous canyons.

Assessment and Decision to Descend

The nurse assessed that the pole under his left arm was not moving inside his body, there was no major bleeding, he was conscious, and he did not feel much pain. He concluded that the tool had not damaged vital organs and that, with the help of two companions, he would be able to descend from the plateau.

Cifaldi told CNN that he thought they had to get down from the mountain, though he added that his colleagues were not initially sure if it was a good idea.

Avoiding Rescue Helicopter Costs

High costs were primarily behind this decision. While searching for help and its arrival is free, a rescue helicopter flight is not. Cifaldi stated that he would make the same decision 99 percent of the time, noting he had experienced friends by his side and the ability to call for help if things went wrong.

The climbers notified the mountain rescue service about what happened and the decision they made. The trip down to the car took them over six hours.

Medical Treatment After the Descent

After descending, they drove to the nearest medical facility, from which they were sent to the hospital where Cifaldi is employed. The wound was treated, and the nurse reported back to work within the same week.