A father-daughter hike up
Maine
The highest peak met with disaster as the father was discovered lifeless on Tuesday.
Tim Keiderling, aged 58, and Esther Keiderling, who is 28 years old, from Ulster Park, New York, embarked on their journey early Sunday morning to climb Mount Katahdin. According to Esther’s personal Substack account, they intended to begin their trek towards the peak sometime between 6 AM and 7 AM.
WMTW reports
.
‘I feel a bit anxious after reading all about the Abol Trail, but I plan to go ahead with it provided the weather cooperates,’ she mentioned, referring to the trail that Baxter State Park characterizes as an ‘extremely challenging hike.’
“If you don’t find me returning with updates on Substack notes, then that’s where I’ll be,” Esther wrote in her post. Her profile identifies her as a customer service agent for Rifton Equipment, a firm based in New York that specializes in making adaptive medical devices.
The pair consisting of a father and daughter was last spotted near the Trailheads area of the mountain at approximately 10:15 am. However, their family grew worried when they hadn’t received any updates from them by Sunday evening.
Bangor Daily News reports.
Relatives mentioned that they were both seasoned hikers who had previously explored the Adirondack range.
The Park Rangers initiated their search for the pair on Monday upon discovering Tim and Esther’s vehicle parked in the daily-use parking area.
On Tuesday, search efforts expanded, resulting in a K9 unit finding Tim’s body close to the peak around 2:45 pm, according to an announcement made by park rangers on social media.
“We understand that many of our social media followers join us in expressing profound sorrow for the family and friends of Tim Keiderling and value your support as teams keep searching for Esther,” the park rangers stated.
Tim is now being commemorated on social media as a devoted father and grandfather, known for his engaging tales and teachings on becoming a beekeeper.
“No one has a brother quite like mine,” stated Joe, speaking to Maine’s Total Coverage.
Tim embraced life passionately. He cherished every moment, everyone around him, and his faith. No one else I know can weave tales quite like he could, infusing them with such vibrant wit.
He departed much earlier than he should have,” Joe went on. “I am deeply saddened for his wife and children.
He also informed the Bangor Daily News that Tim “was a father, brother, husband, and grandfather who cherished life, enjoyed connecting with others, and had a deep faith in God.”
“Our family deeply appreciates the efforts of the park rangers, state police, and all the interagency first responders who looked for my brother,” Joe went on to say.
‘Our thoughts are with them as they keep searching for Esther.’
A post on social media by Bruderhof Communities, a communal Anabaptist Christian group, mentioned that Tim “had a deep love for Jesus and is now in eternal peace with him.”
“We keep praying for Esther and wish she will be found very soon,” it stated.
A commenter mentioned that Tim and his spouse, Annemarie, taught them, while their second daughter, Katherine, was their closest confidante.
‘She penned, “I have numerous wonderful recollections shared with them.”‘
When Tim served as the community beekeeper at Woodcrest, I had the privilege of wearing the beekeeping suit and working beside him; it remains one of my greatest honors.
I deeply apologize and am sending prayers for their loved ones and the whole community. He was an outstanding individual, dad, and educator.
The search for Esther is ongoing, involving over 30 wardens as well as tracking dogs and helicopters provided by the Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard.
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