Tim and Esther Keiderling — the father and daughter hikers whose bodies were found on Katahdin this week — likely died from exposure after they encountered terrible weather on the mountain, according to several reports.
Baxter State Park officials said the official cause of death has yet to be determined by the Maine Chief Medical Examiner’s Office. Officials said both Keiderlings had appropriate gear and supplies.
A Facebook post by Rifton — a company that manufactures special needs products and where both Keiderlings worked — reported that the search crews that discovered their bodies found that both had died from exposure.
Recorded weather conditions from the area on June 1 and accounts from hikers on Katahdin that day suggest the hikers likely encountered rain, snow, strong winds, and freezing temperatures, according to a report from Bangor Daily News.
Photo captures from webcams aimed at Katahdin on Sunday, June 1, suggest that the mountain was enveloped in heavy cloud cover for much if not most of the day.
According to an Accuweather report, the day was forecasted to be rainy and cold on the mountain.
“It did not look like a good day to be on that mountain,” said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Adam Douty.
