A planned hike on Maines highest peak turned tragic this week after search teams uncovered new details following an extensive multi-day operation involving ground crews, K9 units, and aerial surveillance.
A New York father and daughter were both found deceased on Mount Katahdin in Maine after disappearing during a hike over the weekend, according to state officials.
Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther Keiderling, 28, had set out from Abol Campground on Sunday, June 1, intending to hike to the summit of Katahdin, the states tallest mountain. They were last seen at approximately 10:15 a.m. on the Abol Trail in the area known as The Tablelands, according to authorities.
Their vehicle was later found unattended in a day-use parking lot, prompting Baxter State Park Rangers to begin search efforts on Monday morning.
The search was expanded on Tuesday and Wednesday to include multiple teams from the Maine Warden Service, the Maine Association of Search and Rescue (MASAR), and the Maine Army National Guard.
On Tuesday, June 3, at approximately 2:45 p.m., a Maine Warden Service K9 team found Tims body on the Tablelands, near the summit of Katahdin.
Search operations intensified after Tims body was found. Ground teams and helicopters focused their efforts on the Tablelands and surrounding trails and streams, especially on the mountains eastern side.
Crews worked from 8:00 a.m. Wednesday, and were aided by Maine Forest Service and Army Guard helicopters that transported searchers and conducted aerial searches.
A distant view of Mount Katahdin, as seen in a video dated June 4, 2025 | Source: YouTube/WMTW
Despite deploying thermal imaging via helicopter during nighttime hours, no signs of Esther were initially located. But that changed on Wednesday afternoon.
At approximately 1:00 p.m. on June 4, a team consisting of Maine Game Wardens and MASAR technical rescue personnel discovered Esthers body in a boulder field between the Cathedral and Saddle Trails, roughly 1,000 feet from where her father had been found the day prior.
Esther had written on her Substack the day before the hike that she was on a sales trip with her father and had planned the hike together.
“Im a little nervous after everything Ive read about the Abol trail but Im going to do it if weather permits! If you dont see me back on Substack notes again, thats where I am,” she wrote. Esther was a customer service representative for Rifton Equipment, a New York-based manufacturer of adaptive medical devices.
Mount Katahdin, known for its strenuous terrain, requires an elevation gain of about 4,000 feet to reach the summit. Regardless of the trail, the climb is considered physically demanding.
Local hiking guide Tori Gray explained that the mountains elevation causes unpredictable weather patterns, including thunderstorms and snow, making Katahdins terrain treacherous even for the most experienced hikers.
Tori Gray, a hiking guide in Maine, details how challenging it is to climb Mount Katahdin, as seen in a video dated June 4, 2025 | Source: YouTube/WMTW
Following the recovery of both bodies, tributes have begun to pour in from the Keiderlings hometown and community.
The Town of Esopus expressed grief over the loss of Tim and Esther, describing them as treasured members of the community. In a statement, the town recalled their involvement in the Parks and Recreation Committee, where their contributions left a lasting impact.
Officials noted that their kindness, dedication, and spirit would be remembered and honored through continued service to the community in their memory.
Heinrich Arnold, Tims brother-in-law and a fellow member of the Bruderhof, also shared a personal message on social media. He recounted that the pair had gone on a day hike up Mount Katahdin, and when they failed to return, the family alerted the authorities.
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He thanked the search teams and expressed the familys sorrow, stating, “Although our brother Tim was taken from us all too soon, we know Tim loved Jesus and is now in eternity with Him.”
Heinrich also asked for continued prayers for Tims wife, Annemarie, and their children: Timothy, Katherine, Heidi, Sophie, and Karl. At the time of his message, the search for Esther was still ongoing.
The deaths of Tim and Esther mark a tragic end to a planned day hike on one of Maines most challenging mountains. Their loss has deeply impacted both their local community and the broader networks they were part of as search teams and loved ones alike reflect on their lives and legacy.
