Father, daughter found dead after hiking up mountain in Maine

(NEXSTAR/WJW) – A man and his daughter, both from New York, have been found dead after the pair went hiking on Mount Katahdin in Maine over the weekend.

According to the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, 58-year-old Tim Keiderling and his daughter, 28-year-old Esther Keiderling, went missing after leaving the Abol Campground in Baxter State Park to hike to the Mount Katahdin summit.

They left the campground around 10:15 a.m. on Sunday, officials said.

Park rangers started a search for the hikers on Monday morning after realizing that their vehicle was still in the same parking lot. Officials said more than 30 game wardens, a K9 unit, and helicopters flown by the Maine Forest Service and the Maine Army National Guard joined the widespread search.

In a Tuesday update, the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife said the 58-year-old's body was discovered by the K9 unit on the Katahdin Tablelands, near the summit, around 2:45 p.m.

Authorities later found Esther's body Wednesday afternoon in a wooded area between two trails off the Tablelands.

"More details regarding the search will be provided later this afternoon after searchers return to the base area," the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife said in a Wednesday update. "Thank you for your understanding."

According to the National Park Service, Mount Katahdin, which means "Greatest Mountain," is the highest in the state, peaking at 5,269 feet. Baxter State Park describes the hiking trails there as "a very strenuous climb, no matter which trailhead you choose."

The Abol campground, where the Keiderlings were staying, is the closest to Baxter Peak, with a 4.4-mile hike one-way between them. The Abol trail from the campground is "fully exposed" after 2.5 miles, according to park officials, with a steep ascent offering "excellent views."

Hikers on the Abol trail eventually come to the Tableland and have to connect with another trail for the last mile to the summit.

Round-trip, hiking Katahdin takes about 8 to 12 hours, according to the Friends of Baxter State Park. A limited number of hikers are allowed to traverse the mountain in order to protect it and the "wilderness experience."