Tim Keiderling Missing, Search Intensifies for Daughter Esther After Father Found Deceased on Mount Katahdin

Mount Katahdin, Maine – June 4, 2025 — Rescue teams are intensifying their search for 28-year-old Esther Keiderling, who went missing on Mount Katahdin during a hiking trip with her father, Tim Keiderling, whose body was tragically discovered Tuesday afternoon. The father-daughter duo had embarked on the climb Sunday morning, June 1, and have not been seen since that day.

Hike Began From Abol Campground

According to authorities, 58-year-old Tim Keiderling and his daughter Esther set off from the Abol Campground around 10:15 a.m. Sunday, aiming to summit Maine’s highest peak. When park rangers noticed their vehicle still parked overnight in a day-use area, they launched a coordinated search effort early Monday morning.

Search Expands After Father’s Body Found

The initial search covered the Abol Trail, the Hunt Trail, and the Katahdin Tablelands, but yielded no immediate results. On Tuesday, Baxter State Park expanded the operation significantly. Over 30 game wardens from the Maine Warden Service, along with specialized K9 units and the Maine Forest Service, joined the effort. Multiple helicopters, including infrared-equipped Blackhawk and Lakota models from the Maine National Guard, were deployed to scour the rugged and remote terrain.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, a K9 team discovered Tim Keiderling’s body on the Tableland near Katahdin’s summit. As of this writing, Esther Keiderling remains missing, and the search is ongoing with urgency.

Dangerous Weather and Difficult Terrain

Mount Katahdin, revered for its challenging landscape and unpredictable weather, posed additional difficulties for the search crews. Over the weekend and into Monday, temperatures hovered in the 50s with intermittent rain and wind—conditions that can be perilous on the exposed ridges and rock faces of the peak.

Authorities caution that even experienced hikers can be caught off guard by the rapidly changing elements on Katahdin.

Public Assistance Requested

Baxter State Park officials are urging anyone who may have seen the Keiderlings on Sunday or who has information that could aid in the search to contact Houlton State Police at (207) 532-5400. The trails on Mount Katahdin are currently closed until further notice as search and rescue operations continue.

The community remains hopeful that Esther will be found safe, as search teams work tirelessly against both time and the mountain’s unpredictable nature.