Iditarod Musher Kristy Berington injury and recovery story.

At Pioneer Peak Orthopedics, staying active is more than a hobby — it is a way of life.  From running and hunting to farming and competitive sports, our providers believe in lifelong performance and resilience.

Dr. Michael Montano understands that mindset firsthand. As a former NCAA Division I baseball team captain and starting pitcher,
he knows what it takes to train hard, recover well, and compete at a high level.

In 2025, elite endurance athlete and Iditarod musher Kristy Berington faced an unexpected setback.

While descending a steep hill during a bicycle race, Kristy crashed on a sharp gravel turn.  She immediately knew something was not right. Her arm had no strength, and her elbow rapidly swelled.

Kristy called Pioneer Peak.

Dr. Montano had previously cared for her family, and she trusted his experience with athletes.  After evaluation, a surgical repair was performed to stabilize her injury and begin the path to recovery.

What followed were months of disciplined rehabilitation, grit, and teamwork.

By early fall, Kristy was back training. Soon after, she returned to competitive racing — running a marathon alongside her twin sister Anna and continuing her preparation for the Iditarod season.  In January 2026, she completed a 100-mile snow bike race, finishing third.

That is resilience.

At Pioneer Peak, we are proud to care for athletes who push limits and redefine them.  Supporting Seeing Double Racing and helping competitors like Kristy return to peak performance is why we do what we do.

Here is to strong recoveries and even stronger comebacks.