Father and daughter hikers found dead on Mount Katahdin after freezing weather hike

article

Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther, 28, were last seen Sunday as they left the Abol Campground to hike toward the summit of Katahdin. (Main Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife )

Search crews have confirmed that both hikers reported missing Sunday on Maine’s Mount Katahdin have now been found dead. The father-daughter pair, Tim and Esther Keiderling of Ulster Park, New York, set out early Sunday morning from Abol Campground to reach the summit of Maine’s tallest mountain. They were last seen around 10:15 a.m.

After their vehicle was discovered still parked at the trailhead the following morning, authorities launched a full-scale search that drew dozens of personnel from state and local rescue teams. The Keiderlings’ bodies were ultimately found in the Tableland area, just below the summit — Tim’s on Tuesday, Esther’s on Wednesday.

Officials and family members expressed deep sorrow as the search concluded with both lives lost.

Where were the hikers found?

The backstory:

Baxter State Park officials confirmed Wednesday that 28-year-old Esther Keiderling was found deceased around 1 p.m. in a wooded part of the Tableland region of Mount Katahdin, one day after her father’s body was located nearby.

Search teams had been combing the rugged terrain since Monday morning after the Keiderlings failed to return from their hike. Their last known location was near the summit.

Mount Katahdin, which rises to about 5,270 feet and serves as the northern end of the Appalachian Trail, is considered a strenuous climb. Baxter State Park describes the Tableland section — a flat but exposed plateau near the summit — as treacherous in poor weather.

What were the search conditions like?

Timeline:

• Sunday, June 2: Tim and Esther Keiderling departed Abol Campground at 10:15 a.m.
• Monday, June 3: Their vehicle was found still parked; search and rescue operations began.
• Tuesday, June 4: Tim Keiderling’s body was located around 2:45 p.m. in the Tableland area.
• Wednesday, June 5: Esther Keiderling’s body was discovered at about 1:00 p.m.

Tim and Esther Keiderling began their hike up Mount Katahdin around 10:15 a.m. Sunday but never returned. Their car was found parked at the trailhead Monday morning, prompting an intensive search.

Tim was found Tuesday afternoon on the Tableland near the summit; Esther was found Wednesday in a nearby wooded area. Officials say freezing rain, fog, and snow on the mountain Sunday likely contributed to the tragedy.

What they're saying:

"We understand that many of our social media followers share in our profound sadness for the family and friends of Tim and Esther Keiderling," Baxter State Park officials said in a statement. "We appreciate your support for their loved ones and the members of the search teams during this incredibly difficult time."

Tim Keiderling’s brother, Joe, remembered him as exuberant and deeply loved:

"No one has had a brother like mine. Tim lived exuberantly. He loved life, loved people, loved God. He was a storyteller like no one I’ve known with a rich sense of humor," he told WMTW-TV.

The park expressed its condolences and praised the coordination between agencies during the intense multi-day search.

What's next:

While Baxter State Park has not announced any permanent closures or safety policy changes following this incident, officials continue to emphasize the difficulty of Katahdin and the importance of checking trail and weather conditions before climbing.

The Tableland and nearby trails remained temporarily closed during recovery operations. As of Wednesday evening, officials had not said when they would reopen.