Photo: George Pachantouris / Moment / Getty Images
New details have emerged regarding the tragic deaths of Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther Keiderling, 28, from Ulster Park who died while hiking Mount Katahdin in Maine. The pair embarked on their hike on Sunday (June 1), but were later found deceased due to exposure to severe weather conditions.
According to USA Today, Tim's body was discovered near the summit on Tuesday (June 3), and Esther's body was found the following day in a wooded area of Katahdin’s Tableland. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife and Baxter State Park officials conducted the search and recovery efforts, which included multiple agencies and K9 crews.
The weather on the day of their hike was harsh, with reports of rain, snow, strong winds, and freezing temperatures. Although the official cause of death is pending from the Maine Chief Medical Examiner’s Office, Northeast Explorer noted that both Keiderlings were well-equipped for their hike.
Tim's brother, Joe Keiderling, described Tim as someone who "loved life, loved people, loved God," and shared that the hike was a bucket list item for the father-daughter duo. Esther had expressed her excitement and nervousness about the hike in a blog post before their trip.
The tragic incident has prompted park officials to urge anyone who was near the summit of Katahdin on June 1 to contact authorities as they continue to gather information about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.