2008 Iditarod Musher Profile

Heather Siirtola, 30, grew up in North Dakota and later moved to Steamboat, Colorado to find sled dogs. She ran sled tours at Red Runner Dog Tours and ran a few short races and "was hooked." In September of 2003, she moved to Alaska to handle for Jerry Sousa and Kathleen Holden. After three years of being with them, she acquired her own dogs from their yard. Her kennel now consists of 25 dogs with great bloodlines. She says, "The Iditarod is enchanting to me because the dogs and I can keep going and going without having to turn back to head home; instead, we can just make our way to Nome!" Heather is a waitress and tour guide. She enjoys out door recreation.