大卫·西法尔迪是一名受过急诊护理培训的登山者，7月20日在蒙大拿州最高峰花岗岩峰登顶过程中遭遇意外[1]。他在距离山顶约1000英尺处滑落，登山杖穿过他的左臂下方侧面并刺入下背部[1]。这座山峰高度为12,803英尺[1]。
西法尔迪对自己的伤情进行了评估，判断伤口虽然严重但不会立即危及生命[1]。他表示"通过皮肤，我能感觉到登山杖。我知道它没有刺得很深，我也知道我能进行深呼吸"[1]。随后，西法尔迪与两位同伴一起花费6.5小时徒步10英里下山至登山口[1]。到达登山口后，他被送往医院进行手术以取出登山杖[1]。同伴杰西·罗斯对西法尔迪的表现评价为"真是太无私了"[1]。
David Cifaldi was struck by his own trekking pole on July 20 while attempting to summit Granite Peak, Montana's highest mountain at 12,803 feet [1]. The accident occurred approximately 1,000 feet from the summit, when Cifaldi fell and the pole pierced through his left side below the armpit and into his lower back [1]. Despite the serious nature of the injury, Cifaldi, who has emergency care training, assessed his condition and determined it was not immediately life-threatening [1].
Rather than waiting for rescue, Cifaldi made the decision to descend the mountain on foot with two companions [1]. The group hiked 10 miles back to the trailhead over 6.5 hours [1]. "Through my skin, I could feel the trekking pole. I knew it wasn't deep, and I knew I could take deep breaths," Cifaldi recalled of the injury [1]. Upon reaching the trailhead, he was transported to a hospital where surgeons removed the trekking pole during an operation [1]. One of his hiking companions, Jesse Ross, described Cifaldi's resolve during the descent, saying, "Just so selfless" [1]. Following his recovery, Cifaldi plans to return to Granite Peak to complete his summit attempt [1].