Hiker with trekking sticks climbs on steep mountain trail
There are plenty of ways to end up in trouble when you’re hiking if you aren’t careful. That includes the situation one man in Montana found himself facing after a pole he was using to traverse the terrain ended up going straight through his back.
Many people turn to hiking as a way to get some exercise while getting in touch with nature, and it typically takes less of a toll on your body compared to more intense forms of physical activity. However, that doesn’t mean it doesn’t come with its fair share of risks.
Experienced hikers know it never hurts to be prepared when you head out on an excursion where you have the potential to fall victim to pitfalls like dehydration, twisted limbs, and (in some cases) ailments stemming from unexpected encounters with wild animals.
Some people also opt for poles that can come in handy if you’re going to be dealing with significant changes in elevation, but they ended up being a liability for a guy who recently tried to scale the tallest mountain in Montana.
A hiker in Montana walked an impressive distance to seek treatment for a pole that got lodged in his side
Montana offers plenty of hiking options for people looking to take advantage of Big Sky Country. That includes Granite Peak, the 12,807-foot mountain that marks the highest point in the state.
According to Local12, David Cifaldi headed there with a couple of friends on July 20th and was relying on trekking poles while making his way up the peak. Unfortunately, things took an unexpected turn when he slipped on some rocks before realizing one of them had gone directly through the left side of his chest.
The trio was around 10 miles into their hike when Cifaldi suffered the freak injury, and he was able to take advantage of the knowledge that comes with being a registered nurse who specializes in wound care to determine he wasn’t in any grave danger.
The 32-year-old subsequently started making his way back down the mountain with his buddies, and he walked for six-and-a-half hours with the pole lodged in his side before meeting up with search and rescue workers who transported him to a hospital for treatment.
Doctors in Billings were able to extract the pole without any issues, and Cifaldi appears on track to make a full recovery.