One of the two hikers found dead on Katahdin last week died of blunt force trauma, and Baxter State Park officials believe it’s likely she slipped and fell on icy terrain and “collided with large boulders” while trying to descend the mountain.
The Office of the Chief Medical Examiner on Thursday released the cause of Esther Keiderling’s death on the 5,267-foot peak.
Keiderling and her father, Tim Keiderling, began heading down the mountain via the Saddle Trail on June 1 before leaving the trail about three-tenths of a mile into their descent, according to Baxter State Park officials. Tim Keiderling’s body was found in that area on June 3.
“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,” park officials said in a statement on Thursday. “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.”
Esther Keiderling was found in a boulder field below the Cathedral Cut-off Trail about 1,000 feet from her father.
The father and daughter departed the Abol Campground to begin their hike around 6:30 a.m. on June 1. They were last seen by fellow hikers on the Hunt Trail around 10:15 a.m., approximately a half-mile from the summit.
The search team looking for the Keiderlings included 25 game wardens, four game warden K9 teams, 21 Baxter State Park rangers and more, including helicopter support from the Maine Army National Guard and Maine Forest Service.
“On behalf of my mother, Annemarie, and our whole family we are extremely grateful for the professional and immediate response of the search teams and the investigation that followed,” Timothy Keiderling, Esther’s brother and Tim’s son, said in the state park’s statement. “Their expertise and their care for my father and Esther were evident both during the search and in their comprehensive review over the last days that also helps give us a degree of closure.”
The son stated that the family is focused on supporting one another and requested privacy during this time. They asked that all further inquires be directed to the state park.
“We appreciate your understanding,” he said.
The weather on Katahdin that day came with rain, sleet and snow, high winds of 30 to 40 mph and temperatures in the mid-30s. Wind chills were estimated to have been around 19 degrees, according to the park’s statement.
“These weather conditions presented climbers with a heightened risk of hypothermia,” the statement said.
Search efforts began early on June 2, before Tim’s body was found off the Saddle Trail on June 3. Esther’s body was found in the boulder field a day later.
