A tragic hiking incident unfolded on Mount Katahdin in Maine, where the body of a 58-year-old man was discovered on Tuesday. Tim Keiderling was found deceased days after he and his daughter, 28-year-old Esther Keiderling, were reported missing. The search for Esther is ongoing, according to officials.

Tim and Esther Keiderling, from Ulster Park, New York, set out on their hike from the Abol Campground on Sunday morning. They were last seen around 10:15 a.m. as they headed toward the summit of the 5,269-foot mountain. Park rangers initiated a search on Monday after discovering their vehicle still parked in a day-use lot.

Initially, search efforts focused on the Abol Trail and the Hunt Trail, including the Katahdin Tablelands, where the pair was last spotted. However, no signs of either hiker were found during the first day of searching. As the search expanded on Tuesday, it involved over 30 game wardens, the Maine Army National Guard, and a K-9 search and rescue team, along with three helicopters surveying the area from above.

At approximately 2:45 p.m. on Tuesday, K-9 units located Tim Keiderling's body near the summit. The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife confirmed the discovery and expressed condolences for the family. "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," the department stated in a social media post.

Search crews are now concentrating their efforts on the Tablelands and the trails and streams on the east side of Mount Katahdin. All Katahdin Trailhead trails and Traveler Mountain trails remain closed as the search continues. Officials are urging anyone with information about Esther's whereabouts or anyone who may have been on the trail on Sunday to contact Houlton State Police at (207) 532-5400.

Baxter State Park warns that the Katahdin Trails are a very strenuous climb, and statistics show that 80% of search and rescue incidents occur during hikers' descents rather than ascents. The park has a history of serious incidents, with many occurring when hikers stray from established trails.