Tim and Esther Keiderling were found dead this week after attempting to scale Mount Katahdin, a mile-high mountain in Maine, over the weekend, after a massive search party recovered their bodies. The tragedy has left their family and friends in deep sorrow as they mourn the loss of the two individuals. The bodies were found in different areas of the Tablelands section of the mountain, and the search operation was considered one of the largest in the state’s history.
Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther Keiderling, 28, from Ulster Park, New York, left the Abol Campground on Sunday morning to begin their hike to the summit of Mount Katahdin. They were last seen alive around 10:15 a.m. on that day. The family became worried about their safety after they couldn’t contact the pair on Sunday night, as reported by The Bangor Daily News. Officials confirmed that this led to the launch of a massive search operation.
The search involved a significant number of personnel and resources, including 25 Maine Game Wardens, four Game Warden K9 teams, 21 Baxter State Park Rangers, members from the Maine Association for Search and Rescue, and several search and rescue dog teams. The search was further supported by helicopters from the Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard. The park’s director, Kevin Adam, noted that the weather conditions on Sunday, when the pair went missing, were particularly harsh, with freezing rain, fog, and snow. These conditions are believed to have made the hiking more dangerous, possibly contributing to their situation.
Despite the extensive efforts, their bodies were discovered on Tuesday and Wednesday. Tim’s body was recovered on Tuesday in the Tablelands area, and his daughter’s body was found later on Wednesday. The park authorities offered condolences to the Keiderling family and their friends, expressing their sympathy for the loss and the difficulty of the time.
Joe Keiderling, Tim’s brother, expressed his grief in a statement to WMTW-TV, stating that Tim lived exuberantly and was a storyteller with a strong sense of humor. The loss of Tim and Esther has left a deep impact on their family and the community, highlighting the importance of outdoor safety and awareness, particularly in challenging weather conditions. The incident has also prompted discussions about the dangers of hiking in extreme environments and the need for preparedness and caution when undertaking such activities.