Body of Missing Hiker Found; Search for Daughter Continues

BAXTER STATE PARK, Maine (WABI) — A massive search is underway for a missing hiker after the body of her father was found near the summit of Mount Katahdin. Tim Keiderling, 58, of Ulster Park, New York, was discovered by a Maine Warden Service K9 team around 2:45p.m. on Tuesday.

Keiderling and his daughter Esther, 28, were last seen on Sunday, June 1, at about 10:15 a.m. as they headed toward the Katahdin Tablelands. Park Rangers initiated their search Monday morning when they found the Keiderling’s vehicle parked in the day-use lot.

Rangers expanded the search efforts on Tuesday, incorporating over 30 game wardens and aerial support from the Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard. They began searching both the Abol Trail and the Hunt Trail, which were closed to the public for the search.

Tim’s brother Joe expressed his grief in a statement: “Tim lived exuberantly. He loved life, loved people, loved God. I am heartbroken for his wife and children.” He emphasized the family’s gratitude for the ongoing search efforts for his niece.

Esther had posted on Substack before the hike about her concerns regarding the Abol Trail but remained determined to continue if the conditions were right. The search crews have been working in challenging conditions, with nighttime temperatures in the 30s and wind chills reaching freezing.

The search for Esther Keiderling is ongoing, with officials asking anyone who was in the area of Katahdin on Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. to contact Maine State Police at 207-532-5400.