A father and daughter from Ulster County, New York, were found dead this week following a weekend hike on Mount Katahdin, Maine’s tallest mountain.
The father and daughter were last seen leaving the Baxter State Park campground just after 10 a.m. on June 1, officials said.
Park officials asked anyone who was on or near the summit of Katahdin between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on June 1 to contact authorities. Park rangers later located their vehicle in a day-use parking lot.
A search and rescue operation began the following day. Despite initial searches of the park’s trails, there was no sign of the pair.
Rangers said the pair had last been seen on the Katahdin Tablelands on Sunday, heading toward the summit.
More than 30 personnel—including park rangers, game wardens, K9 units, and members of the Maine Forest Service—participated in the extensive air and ground search. The Maine National Guard deployed a Blackhawk and a Lakota helicopter, both equipped with thermal imaging technology.
Tim Keiderling’s body was located by a Maine Warden Service K9 search team.
Mount Katahdin, which stands 5,270 feet tall, is known for its challenging hike.
“The mountain is a formidable place,” Baxter Park Director Eben Sypitkowski said. He encouraged hikers to be prepared, and be ready to stop short of their goal if it means staying safe.
“Remember that your primary goal is not reaching the summit, but a safe return to the trailhead,” the park’s website advises.
There have been more than 60 deaths on Mount Katahdin since 1933, according to Randi Minetor’s 2018 book “Death on Katahdin.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
