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Yahoo
a day ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Weather ‘definitely a factor' in death of New York hikers in Maine park
Weather may be to blame for the deaths of two hikers, a father and daughter from New York, in a Maine state park this week, officials revealed Thursday. Esther Keiderling, 28, was found dead around 1 p.m. on Wednesday in a wooded area, Baxter State Park officials wrote in a social media post. Her father, Tim, 58, was found dead a day prior, around 2:45 p.m., near the summit of Mount Katahdin. Both Keiderlings, of Ulster Park, New York, left Abol Campground on Sunday to hike to the summit. They were last seen at around 10:15 a.m. That day, the weather forecast called for temperatures in the mid-30s on the mountain, with the summit obscured, said Park Director Kevin Adam. There was a 70% chance of rain on Sunday, the day both Keiderlings went missing, with winds ranging from 30 to 40 mph. "It would have been freezing rain, fog, and some snow for Sunday," Adam explained. 'Weather is definitely a factor in this incident.' A search for the pair began Monday morning after finding their vehicle still in the day-use parking lot. Park rangers searched several trails, including the Katahdin Tablelands, and found no sign of the father and daughter. The search expanded Tuesday with more than 30 game wardens looking for the pair. The Maine Forest Service and Army National Guard used helicopters to aid in the search. Tim Keiderling was found dead on Tuesday by a game warden and his K-9. Game wardens, park rangers and K-9 teams resumed the search for Esther Keiderling Wednesday. 'We understand that many of our social media followers share in our profound sadness for the family and friends of Tim and Esther Keiderling,' officials wrote in a Facebook post. 'We appreciate your support for their loved ones and the members of the search teams during this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Tim and Esther Keiderling's family and friends.' Capitol Hill Republicans shoot down Mass. lawmaker's effort to subpoena Elon Musk R&B icon says brother made 'mockery' of his estranged son's cancer death Boston marathon raised $50M+ for charity in 2025, setting record Belmont man wanted in connection with road rage hatchet assault surrenders Harvard Medical School renames DEI office as university fights against Trump admin in court Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Father, daughter found dead after days-long search in Maine national park
The body of a 28-year-old New York woman was found in a wooded area in a Maine state park on Wednesday, a day after her father's body was found near the summit of Mount Katahdin. The pair were the subject of intense searches over multiple days this week, after disappearing on Sunday as they hiked up to the summit of Katahdin. Esther Keiderling, 28, was found dead around 1 p.m. on Wednesday in a wooded area, Baxter State Park officials wrote in a social media post. Her father, Tim, 58, was found dead a day prior, around 2:45 p.m., near the summit. Both Keiderlings, of Ulster Park, New York, left Abol Campground on Sunday to hike to the summit. They were last seen at around 10:15 a.m. A search for the pair began Monday morning after finding their vehicle still in the day-use parking lot. Park rangers searched several trails, including the Katahdin Tablelands, and found no sign of the father and daughter. The search expanded Tuesday with more than 30 game wardens looking for the pair. The Maine Forest Service and Army National Guard used helicopters to aid in the search. Tim Keiderling was found dead on Tuesday by a game warden and his K-9. Game wardens, park rangers and K-9 teams resumed the search for Esther Keiderling Wednesday. 'We understand that many of our social media followers share in our profound sadness for the family and friends of Tim and Esther Keiderling,' officials wrote in the Facebook post. 'We appreciate your support for their loved ones and the members of the search teams during this incredibly difficult time. Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with Tim and Esther Keiderling's family and friends.' Massachusetts House votes to overhaul Cannabis Control Commission 'I did the humane thing': Worcester city councilor stands by actions at ICE arrest Defendant's family asked teen 'to not speak out' in Boston sex trafficking case, lawyer said Man who killed Milford police officer granted 'compassionate release' Teen runs a mile to escape attacker who dragged him into Springfield park Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Father and daughter found dead on Maine mountain after vanishing during hike
A father and daughter were found dead on Mount Katahdin in Maine, days after they were reported missing. The body of Tim Keiderling, 58, was discovered Tuesday on the Tablelands area of the mountain, Baxter State Park said in a press release. His daughter, Esther Keiderling, 28, was found dead Wednesday afternoon in a wooded area between two trails off the Tablelands following an extensive search. Crews, including game wardens, rangers, and K-9 teams, had searched Mount Katahdin both on the ground and from the air for Esther Keiderling, Baxter State Park said in an earlier news release. Maine Forest Service Helicopters and Maine Army Guard Helicopters assisted. The pair, from Ulster Park, New York, left the Abol Campground on Sunday to hike the summit, the park said. They were last seen around 10:15 a.m. heading in the direction of the summit. Park rangers began searching for them Monday after finding their vehicle in a day-use parking lot. Tim Keiderling was a member of the Bruderhof Communities, a Christian community in which people share all their possessions, including money. His brother-in-law, Heinrich Arnold, released a statement on the community's Facebook page. "It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of the passing of my brother-in-law and fellow Bruderhof member Tim Keiderling," he said. "Although our brother Tim was taken from us all too soon, we know Tim loved Jesus and is now in eternity with Him. We continue to pray for Esther and hope she is found soon." This article was originally published on
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Father Dead, 28-Year-Old Daughter Still Missing 3 Days After Setting Out on Appalachian Trail Hike: Authorities
The body of 58-year-old Tim Keiderling, who went missing along with his daughter Esther, 28, on June 1 after hiking together in Maine, has been found The pair was last seen heading to Mount Katahdin for their Appalachian trail hike at around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 1, according to authorities. They announced that they had located Tim's body on Tuesday, June 3 Search and rescue teams are continuing their hunt for EstherThe body of a man who went missing alongside his daughter after the pair set out on an Appalachian trail hike together has been found. On Tuesday, June 3, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife announced that Tim Keiderling, 58, and his daughter Esther, 28, were missing. They had last been seen leaving Abol Campground to hike Mount Katahdin in Maine at around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, June 1. In an update posted on Facebook several hours later on Tuesday, rangers at Baxter State Park confirmed that the body of a man positively identified as Tim had been found in their search, but they were continuing the hunt for Esther. 'At approximately 2:45 p.m. today, a Maine Warden Service K9 search team located the body of Tim Keiderling on the Tableland, near the summit of Katahdin. Search efforts continue for Esther Keiderling,' they wrote. Baxter State Park said in a statement, '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." According to the park's website, the hike up Katahdin is 'a very strenuous climb, no matter which trailhead you choose.' The round-trip time is noted to take on average eight to 12 hours. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Before locating Tim's body, the search had expanded to include the Warden Service K9 and Maine Forest Service helicopters. The Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard, who use Blackhawk and Lakota Helicopters, were also assisting by searching in the air. Rangers began searching for them Monday morning after Tim's vehicle was found in the day-use parking lot, park officials said. 'At this point, searchers from the ground and air have not found any traces of the missing hikers. The search will continue through the daylight hours,' the park said initially. 'Baxter State Park has closed the Hunt and Abol Trails on Katahdin in order to assist with the search. At this time, volunteer searchers are not needed.' Authorities are urging anyone with information regarding Esther or anyone who was on or around the summit of Katahdin Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., to call Houlton State Police at 207-532-5400. PEOPLE has contacted the MDIFW and Houlton State Police for comment, but did not immediately hear back. Read the original article on People
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Searchers find father's body near summit of Katahdin
Jun. 3—A Maine Warden Service K-9 team found the body of a 58-year-old New York man near the summit of Katahdin on Tuesday, two days after he and his daughter went missing while hiking the 5,267-foot peak in Baxter State Park. Tim Keiderling's body was found in the Katahdin Tablelands at approximately 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday. The search for his daughter, Esther Keiderling, 28, continues. Park officials say the Keiderlings, both of Ulster Park, New York, left Abol Campground on Sunday morning to hike up Katahdin. They were last seen around 10:15 a.m. that day as they headed toward the summit. Rangers began searching for the pair Monday morning after finding their vehicle in a day-use parking lot. They searched the Abol Trail, the Hunt Trail and the Katahdin Tablelands, a level area near the summit, officials said. Searchers found no signs of the pair and on Tuesday expanded the search to include helicopters, more than 30 game wardens and K-9 teams. The Hunt and Abol trails on Katahdin are closed while the search is ongoing. The Maine Forest Service is assisting in the search with three helicopters. The Maine Army National Guard responded with a Blackhawk and a Lakota helicopter equipped with an infrared thermal imaging device. The Abol Trail, a popular but challenging hike with a 3,982-foot elevation gain, is the shortest route to Baxter Peak from a roadside trailhead. The trail used to include the prominent Abol Slide but was relocated in 2015 after soil and rock movement increased hazards for hikers. The relocated trail uses the ridge west of the slide. The rocky terrain requires hikers to climb over large boulders. Forecasts for Sunday by the National Weather Service in Caribou called for scattered showers at Katahdin's summit with winds peaking at 30-40 mph and low temperatures in the mid-30s. The low temperature was expected to hit the mid-30s again on Monday night, when scattered showers were also predicted. A representative at the Caribou Office on Tuesday said the agency only provides forecasts for the summit and doesn't track temperatures and wind speeds. Nearby Millinocket, which is roughly 350 above sea level, saw a low of 36 degrees Monday night. Temperatures were likely much colder on Katahdin's summit, nearly 5,000 feet higher. In a blog post shared to Substack on Saturday, Esther Keiderling wrote that she and her father planned a sales trip around a weekend so they could hike Katahdin. In other posts, she talked about working with her father at Rifton Equipment, where she is a customer service representative, and documented a recent trip they took to Niagara Falls. In her most recent post, Esther Keiderling said she and her father planned to start hiking up the Abol Trail between 6-7 a.m. Sunday if it wasn't pouring rain. "I'm a little nervous about everything I've seen about the Abol trail but I'm going to do it if weather permits!" she wrote. "If you don't see me back on Substack notes again, that's where I am." The search for Esther Keiderling will continue through daylight hours. Volunteer searchers are not needed, park officials said. Anyone who was on or around the Katahdin summit on Sunday between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. or has any information about the Keiderlings is asked to call state police in Houlton at 207-532-5400. This story will be updated. Staff Writer Drew Johnson contributed to this report. Copy the Story Link We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others. We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion. You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs. Show less
