Rappel in the Panther!

God’s Country Outfitters will be operating a rappel checkpoint for the Impossible Panther teams this year! Unlike previous races, the rappel will be accessible to participants on all three courses: 6, 12 and 24 hour.

GCO will be providing harnesses, helmets and how-to. Racers will only need to find the rappel site and bring nerves of steel and shoes with a heel-strap and non-slick soles. (Sorry, flip-flops and hard-sole bike shoes won’t do.) The rappel checkpoint will be optional, as are many of the checkpoints in this modified-rogaine format race, but the point value (and fun value) will be such that you won’t want to skip this one!!

NOTE: A “heel-strap” is just a part of the shoe that goes around your heel to help keep the shoe on your foot. Shoes without a “heel-strap” would be like flip-flops, clogs, birks, etc. I can’t imagine anyone trying to race in shoes like these, so you’re probably safe. The more important concern for adventure racers will be clip-in bike shoes. Most of those have soles that are too slick to be safely used for rappelling.