Father and Daughter Found Dead After Attempted Hike to Mount Katahdin Summit in Maine

Esther and Tim Keiderling

A tragic hiking expedition ended in the deaths of a father and daughter who were found dead after attempting to summit Mount Katahdin, Maine's highest peak. Officials confirmed Wednesday that Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther Keiderling, 28, perished during their hike in Baxter State Park.

The pair left their campground at approximately 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, aiming to reach the 5,269-foot summit of Mount Katahdin, according to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. When the Keiderlings did not return, park rangers launched a search on Monday after their car was found still parked in a day-use area.

Initial efforts focused on key hiking routes, including the Katahdin Tablelands, where the hikers were last seen. As time passed without any leads, the operation expanded on Tuesday to include 25 game wardens, members of the Maine Army National Guard, multiple search and rescue teams, and K-9 units. Three helicopters from the state Forest Service assisted with aerial surveillance and transportation of ground teams. Park rangers also supported the search efforts on foot.

At around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, a K-9 unit located Tim Keiderling’s body. The search for Esther resumed early Wednesday after a thermal imaging device failed to detect any trace of her the night before. Her body was eventually found around 1 p.m. Wednesday in a wooded area of the Tablelands.

Park officials expressed deep sorrow in a statement, offering condolences to the victims’ family and recognizing the emotional toll on search crews. “We appreciate your support for their loved ones and the members of the search teams during this incredibly difficult time,” the park shared. “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Tim and Esther Keiderling's family and friends.”

Baxter State Park's website describes the trails leading to Mount Katahdin's summit as “very strenuous,” cautioning that most search and rescue incidents occur during hikers’ descents. Over 75% of the park’s most serious incidents, including fatalities, happen when hikers stray off marked trails.

The loss of the Keiderlings underscores the extreme challenges posed by Mount Katahdin’s rugged terrain and the importance of careful planning and trail adherence in high-risk environments.