Tragedy on Katahdin: Father dead, daughter missing after Sunday climb

Tim Keiderling and his daughter, Esther (Courtesy photo)

BAXTER STATE PARK, Maine - Baxter State Park Rangers have found the body of a New York man who went missing on Sunday after he and his daughter had left a Baxter State Park campground headed for the summit of Mt. Katahdin.
Searchers located Tim Keiderling, 58, on the Tableland, near the summit of Katahdin around 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday.
Search efforts continue for his daughter, Esther Keiderling, 28.
The two, both of Ulster Park, N.Y., left Abol Campground Sunday morning to hike to the summit of Katahdin, according to park rangers.
The pair was last seen around 10:15 a.m.
Rangers began their search on Monday after discovering that the Keiderlings' vehicle was still in the day-use parking lot. Baxter Park Rangers searched the Abol Trail the Hunt Trail, including the Katahdin Tablelands, and found no sign of the father and daughter.
Baxter State Park Rangers expanded their search on Tuesday morning assisted by more than 30 game wardens including the Maine Warden Service Search and Rescue team and the Maine Warden Service K9 team. The Maine Forest Service also assisted the search with three helicopters.

The cause of Tim Keiderling's death has not been released, while the search for his daughter continues today.

Anyone who was on or around the summit of Katahdin Sunday between the hours of 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., or who otherwise has any information regarding the location of Tim and Esther Keiderling, is asked to call Houlton State Police at 207-532-5400.