After conferring with his two hiking companions — and considering the high cost of a helicopter rescue — Mr Cifaldi knew who would save him: himself. David Cifaldi after he impaled himself on a trekking pole (Jesse Ross via AP)“I was like, ‘We’ve got to get off this mountain.’ And they’re both like, ‘I don’t know about that’,” Mr Cifaldi said of his friends’ initial reaction. The first call came in at 9.44am on July 20, right after Mr Cifaldi impaled himself. By about 3.30pm, the hikers were in Mr Ross’ vehicle headed to the nearest clinic, Mr Cifaldi said.