Local News

Authorities find body of hiker who went missing with daughter on Maine mountain

Tim Keiderling, 58, and Ester Keiderling, 28, left Abol Campground on Sunday morning to hike to the summit of Mount Katahdin, officials said.

Tim Keiderling, 58, and Ester Keiderling, 28, left Abol Campground on Sunday morning to hike to the summit of Mount Katahdin, officials said. Baxter State Park Rangers

By Dialynn Dwyer

June 3, 2025

1 minute to read

The body of a New York man who went missing on a hike with his daughter on a Maine mountain over the weekend has been found, officials announced Tuesday.

Tim Keiderling, 58, of Ulster Park, New York, was found around 2:45 p.m. Tuesday near the summit of Mount Katahdin by a Maine Warden Service K9 search team, Baxter State Park officials said. The search is ongoing for his daughter, 28-year-old Ester Keiderling, also of Ulster Park.

“We know that many of our social media followers share in our deep sadness for the family and friends of Tim Keiderling, and appreciate your support as teams continue the search for Esther,” officials said.

Park rangers began searching for the pair Monday morning after finding their car was still in the day-use parking lot. The father and daughter left Abol Campground on Sunday morning to hike to the summit and were last observed around 10:15 a.m. on the Katahdin Tablelands, Baxter State Park officials said.

The Abol Trail, Hunt Trail, and Katahdin Tablelands were all searched on Monday but, officials said, rangers found no sign of the father and daughter. The search resumed Tuesday, expanding with the assistance of more than 30 game wardens from the search and rescue and K9 teams. Three helicopters from the Maine Forest Service were used to search from the air, and the Maine Army National Guard also responded with a Blackhawk helicopter to search using infrared imaging.

On Tuesday afternoon, park officials said, Baxter State Park closed the Hunt and Abol Trails on Katahdin to assist with the search. As of Tuesday, no volunteers were needed for the search, they said.

Officials are asking anyone who was around or on the summit of Katahdin on Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m., or who might otherwise have information about the Keiderlings, to contact Houlton State Police at 207-532-5400.