Musher Details

2012 Iditarod » Mushers » Ed Stielstra

Ed Stielstra

Bib Number: 45
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.


2012 Standings

Checkpoint Time In Dogs In Time Out Dogs Out Rest Time Previous Layover Status Distance
Enroute Time Speed (mph) 8hr 24hr
Anchorage 3/03 11:34:00 12
Willow 3/04 15:26:00 16
Yentna Station 3/04 19:32:00 16 3/04 19:36:00 16 0h 4m 4h 6m 10.24 42
Skwentna 3/04 22:47:00 16 3/05 04:07:00 16 5h 20m 3h 11m 9.42 30
Finger Lake 3/05 09:08:00 16 3/05 13:40:00 15 4h 32m 5h 1m 7.97 40
Rainy Pass 3/05 17:21:00 15 3/05 23:02:00 15 5h 41m 3h 41m 8.14 30
Rohn 3/06 03:28:00 15 3/06 08:40:00 14 5h 12m 4h 26m 7.89 35
Nikolai 3/06 23:36:00 14 3/06 23:43:00 14 0h 7m 14h 56m 5.02 75
McGrath 3/07 11:38:00 14 3/07 11:40:00 14 0h 2m 11h 55m 4.03 48
Takotna 3/07 14:33:00 14 3/08 15:22:00 13 24h 49m 2h 53m 6.24 ✔ 18
Ophir 3/08 18:00:00 13 3/08 18:10:00 12 0h 10m 2h 38m 8.73 ✔ 23
Cripple 3/09 09:59:00 12 3/09 10:07:00 12 0h 8m 15h 49m 4.62 ✔ 73
Ruby 3/10 01:39:00 12 3/10 09:40:00 12 8h 1m 15h 32m 4.51 ✔ ✔ 70
Galena 3/10 16:20:00 12 3/10 22:00:00 12 5h 40m 6h 40m 7.50 ✔ ✔ 50
Nulato 3/11 05:39:00 12 3/11 10:42:00 10 5h 3m 6h 39m 5.56 ✔ ✔ 37
Kaltag 3/11 15:25:00 10 3/11 15:40:00 10 0h 15m 4h 43m 9.96 ✔ ✔ 47
Unalakleet 3/12 08:40:00 10 3/12 12:31:00 10 3h 51m 17h 0m 5.00 ✔ ✔ 85
Shaktoolik 3/12 20:23:00 10 3/13 11:53:00 10 15h 30m 7h 52m 5.08 ✔ ✔ 40
Koyuk 3/13 20:28:00 10 3/14 02:45:00 10 6h 17m 8h 35m 5.83 ✔ ✔ 50
Elim 3/14 09:13:00 10 3/14 11:37:00 10 2h 24m 6h 28m 7.42 ✔ ✔ 48
White Mountain 3/14 18:25:00 10 3/15 02:25:00 10 8h 0m 6h 48m 6.76 ✔ ✔ 46
Safety 3/15 09:43:00 10 3/15 09:45:00 10 0h 2m 7h 18m 7.53 ✔ ✔ 55
Nome 3/15 12:59:59 10 3h 14m 6.80 ✔ ✔ 22