Musher Details

2004 Iditarod » Mushers » Ed Stielstra

Ed Stielstra

Bib Number: 88
Hometown: McMillan, MI
Website:


Biography

Ed, 47, grew up in Ludington, Michigan enjoying competitive sports, dogs and being outside. After high school, he attended Michigan State University where he received a Bachelor of Science from Lyman Briggs College of Science. Approximately 13 years ago, Ed and his wife left their “real world” jobs to operate Nature’s Kennel Sled Dog Adventures and Racing full time. Their kennel is located in Michigan’s beautiful Upper Peninsula, and they offer dog sled adventures geared toward the beginner.

Along with tours and racing, Ed and Tasha combine their mushing experience with their past teaching experience to do presentations for students in kindergarten through 8th grade around the US and abroad. Their “Pulling Together” presentations focus on teamwork and respect from a sled dog’s viewpoint.

When not training dogs and entertaining guests, Ed spends his free time with his two children, Nate, 6, and Fern, 4.

In the 2017 Iditarod, Ed is excited to run a team of one year olds. His racing partner, Laura Neese, will have the adult racing team while Ed will be taking a much slower pace to gain the young dogs valuable trail experience.


2004 Standings

Checkpoint Time In Dogs In Time Out Dogs Out Rest Time Previous Layover Status Distance
Enroute Time Speed (mph) 8hr 24hr
Anchorage 3/06 13:11:00 12
BLM 3/13 13:05:00 12 3/13 21:10:00 12 8h 5m 167h 54m ✔ ✔
Willow 3/14 03:52:00 12 3/14 10:15:00 12 6h 23m 6h 42m 4.63 ✔ ✔ 31
Yentna 3/14 19:10:00 12 3/15 05:50:00 10 10h 40m 8h 55m 1.91 ✔ ✔ 17
Skwentna 3/15 10:31:00 10 3/15 17:40:00 9 7h 9m 4h 41m 7.26 ✔ ✔ 34
Finger Lake 3/16 12:27:00 9 3/16 18:45:00 9 6h 18m 18h 47m 2.40 ✔ ✔ 45
Rainy Pass 3/17 01:19:00 9 3/17 10:10:00 9 8h 51m 6h 34m 4.57 ✔ ✔ 30
Rohn 3/17 18:24:00 9 3/18 08:03:00 9 13h 39m 8h 14m 5.83 ✔ ✔ 48
Nikolai 3/18 14:16:00 9 3/18 20:24:00 9 6h 8m 6h 13m 14.96 ✔ ✔ 93
McGrath 3/19 02:56:00 9 3/19 11:19:00 9 8h 23m 6h 32m 7.35 ✔ ✔ 48
Takotna 3/19 18:34:00 9 3/19 18:36:00 9 0h 2m 7h 15m 3.17 ✔ ✔ 23
Ophir 3/12 21:32:00 3/12 21:43:00 12 0h 11m -166h -4m -0.23 ✔ 38
Cripple 3/11 21:42:00 12 3/12 06:11:00 12 8h 29m -25h -1m -2.40 ✔ 60
Ruby 3/06 14:31:00 12 -136h -40m -0.82 112
Galena 3/07 12:52:00 16 52
Nulato 3/07 16:36:00 16 3/07 16:40:00 16 0h 4m 3h 44m 13.93 52
Kaltag 3/07 19:59:00 16 16 3h 19m 12.66 42
Unalakleet 3/08 09:21:00 16 3/08 15:15:00 13 5h 54m 90
Shaktoolik 3/08 18:58:00 13 3/09 05:55:00 13 10h 57m 3h 43m 10.76 40
Koyuk 3/09 09:52:00 13 3/09 17:35:00 12 7h 43m 3h 57m 14.68 58
Elim 3/10 02:27:00 12 3/11 02:31:00 12 24h 4m 8h 52m 5.41 ✔ 48
White Mountain 3/11 08:28:00 12 3/11 16:42:00 12 8h 14m 5h 57m 7.73 ✔ 46
Safety 3/11 18:49:00 12 3/11 18:58:00 12 0h 9m 2h 7m 25.98 ✔ 55
Nome 3/19 21:48:52 194h 50m 0.11 ✔ ✔ 22