32岁护士兼伤口护理专家David Cifaldi在2024年7月20日上午登蒙大拿州最高峰Granite Peak时遭遇意外[1]。Cifaldi在海拔3900米的山上滑倒，被一根112厘米长、钢制尖端的登山杖刺穿左侧腋下[1]。所幸登山杖虽穿过软组织，但未伤及重要器官[1]。
经过自我评估，Cifaldi认为伤情可控，决定与两名经验丰富的登山同伴一起徒步下山[1]。他做出这一决定的考量包括直升机救援费用昂贵、身边有可靠的伙伴陪同，以及能够与搜救队保持联系[1]。这支队伍用时6小时以上完成了约16公里、下降约1500米的下山路程，于下午3:30左右到达停车点[1]。随后Cifaldi自行驾车前往医院接受治疗，医生移除了登山杖并包扎伤口[1]。Cifaldi本周已重返工作岗位[1]。
对于这次经历，Cifaldi自评伤情为"仅是皮肉伤"[1]。同伴Jesse Ross则表示，"唯一让这成为可能的是他的信心"[1]。蒙大拿州Search and Rescue队长Ty Williams指出，"他不想要我们帮助，所以我们不会违反他的意愿强行帮助他"[1]。
A 32-year-old nurse demonstrated remarkable composure after a hiking accident left him impaled by a hiking pole on Granite Peak. [1] David Cifaldi slipped and was struck by a steel-tipped hiking pole measuring 112 centimetres long that penetrated his left armpit on July 20, 2024, at 9:44 a.m., but the wound missed vital organs and caused only soft tissue damage. [1] Rather than request helicopter rescue, Cifaldi assessed his injury and decided to hike down the mountain with two experienced companions. [1]
Cifaldi and his fellow climbers embarked on a six-hour descent covering approximately 16 kilometres from the 3,900-metre peak. [1] He drove himself to hospital after reaching the car park around 3:30 p.m., where doctors removed the hiking pole and treated the wound. [1] By the end of the week, Cifaldi had returned to work. [1] Search and Rescue team leader Ty Williams stated that respecting Cifaldi's decision was paramount: "He didn't want our help, so we weren't going to force it upon him." [1] Cifaldi's companion Jesse Ross attributed the successful descent to his mindset, saying, "The only way this was possible was because of his confidence." [1] Cifaldi's choice to self-rescue was informed by the high cost of helicopter evacuation, the presence of two skilled mountaineers, and his ability to maintain contact with search and rescue officials. [1]