Katahdin hiker died of hypothermia complications, medical examiner says
By Leela Stockley, Bangor Daily News Staff
The cause of death of one of the hikers who died on Katahdin was confirmed by officials on June 26.
Tim Keiderling, 58, died from “complications of hypothermia,” according to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. His manner of death was determined to be accidental, medical office spokesperson Lindsey Chasteen said.
His daughter Esther Keiderling, 28, died of blunt force injuries, the medical examiner confirmed on June 10.
Esther Keiderling’s manner of death was not released, but Baxter State Park officials said they believe Esther Keiderling fell onto rocks near the snowy summit.
“It appears that Esther continued downhill off trail and attempted to traverse the boulder area, which was steep and snow-covered, and slid downhill until she collided with large boulders,” Baxter State Park officials said in a statement. “Based on the temperatures and other weather conditions on June 1, the snow field was likely extremely icy and almost impossible to navigate without traction foot gear such as crampons or microspikes.”
The Keiderlings’ family previously said the father-daughter pair died of exposure.
Tim and Esther Keiderling attempted to hike Katahdin on May 31. Their family grew concerned when they did not hear from them that night and park rangers started a search after they found the Keiderlings’ vehicle still in the day use lot.
Tim Keiderling was found dead June 3, by a Maine Warden Service K9 search team on the Tablelands region near the summit of Katahdin. Esther Keiderling was found dead June 4, in a boulder area between the Cathedral and Saddle Trails off the Tablelands, roughly 1,000 feet from where her father was found, Baxter State Park Director Kevin Adam said previously.
The hikers planned to hike up Abol Trail and down Hunt Trail. They would have encountered rain, snow, heavy winds and freezing wind chill temperatures during their ascent, according to accounts from hikers and satellite and forecast data. According to National Weather Service officials, the summit of Katahdin was forecast to be “very windy” — 30 to 40 mph — with intermittent rain showers, temperatures steady in the mid 30s and wind chills around 19 degrees on May 31.
A funeral was held for both Tim and Esther Keiderling in mid-June, according to the Bruderhof Community Facebook page. The Keiderlings were involved with Bruderhof, a Christian faith community, according to Heinrich Arnold, Tim Keiderling’s brother-in-law.
BDN reporter Marie Weidmayer contributed to this report.