Tragic Discovery on Mount Katahdin: Missing Hiker Found, Search Continues for Daughter
The body of a man who went missing while hiking Mount Katahdin in Maine was found by a K9 search team on Tuesday afternoon. Tim Keiderling, 58, was discovered near the summit of the mountain. Keiderling and his daughter Esther, 28, were last seen leaving Abol Campground on Sunday morning.
After park rangers noticed the Keiderlings' vehicle still parked in the day-use parking lot the next morning, a search was initiated. The search team included 30 game wardens, the Maine Warden Service Search and Rescue team, and the K9 unit. Baxter State Park officials closed certain trails to aid in the search efforts.
Hikers who were on or near the summit of Mount Katahdin on Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. are asked to contact Houlton State Police with any information about the Keiderlings' whereabouts. The hike up Mount Katahdin is known to be very strenuous, taking 8-12 hours with an elevation gain of around 4,000 feet.
Despite the challenging climb, many hikers are drawn to Mount Katahdin for its natural beauty and as the northern end of the Appalachian Trail. The search for Esther Keiderling is ongoing, and authorities are urging anyone with information to come forward.