Last updated 8:49 a.m. Thursday, June 5.
The body of Esther Keiderling, who along with her father was reported missing after hiking Mount Katahdin in Maine this week, was found on the mountain by search crews this afternoon, Wednesday, June 4.
According to park officials, the body of Esther Keiderling was discovered by search teams at around 1 p.m. in a wooded area off the Tablelands. She was found in a boulder area between the Cathedral and Saddle Trails off the Tablelands, approximately 1000 feet from where her father was found.
The body of her father, Tim Keiderling, was discovered Tuesday, June 3, at around 2:45 p.m. A Maine Warden Service K9 search team located his body on the Tablelands near the summit of Katahdin.
On Tuesday morning, Baxter State Park officials announced on the park’s Facebook account that the Abol and Hunt trails were closed effective immediately due to an active search.
Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther Keiderling, 28, both of Ulster Park, New York, had left Abol Campground on Sunday to hike to the summit of Katahdin. They were last seen at approximately 10:15 a.m. on the Katahdin Tablelands heading towards the summit.
Baxter State Park Rangers began searching on the morning of Monday, June 1, after discovering that the Keiderling’s vehicle was still in the day-use parking lot. Baxter Park Rangers actively searched the Abol Trail and the Hunt Trail, including the Katahdin Tablelands.
Baxter State Park Rangers expanded their search on Katahdin Tuesday morning, assisted by over 30 game wardens including the Maine Warden Service Search and Rescue team and the Maine Warden Service K9 team.
On Wednesday, 25 Game Wardens, four Game Warden K9 teams, and 21 Baxter State Park rangers were searching the mountain. Maine Forest Service Helicopters and Maine Army Guard Helicopters were also assisting in the search and with transporting crews to the summit.
We’ll provide more information as it becomes available.
