Crate Wide Open (also known as Tiers of Heaven, Kang Sera Sera, Uphill Battle, and Cube Bert-Sea) is a recurring tribal challenge. Since its introduction in Survivor 43, it has consistently appeared as the opening Reward Challenge.
Contestants must retrieve heavy crates by either completing an obstacle course or paddling out to retrieve them from out at sea. After collecting all their crates, the tribe will arrange them to form an elevated platform, which one tribe member will climb to complete a final task. The first tribe to finish the task wins.
History[]
In 43, two members of each tribe would race into the jungle for two wooden crates. When they have returned, two more members would race into the ocean to pull a boat containing more crates back to shore. Once the boat is clipped in, the last two members will use the crates to form a cube. Once completed, one person will climb the cube, using a bamboo pole to remove a flint on a ring from a slanted pole. Despite Coco leading the challenge, Cody Assenmacher's suggestion to hold the flint with the hollow part of the pole allowed Dwight Moore to retrieve Vesi's flint first, winning reward for the tribe.
In 44, two members at a time would race under obstacles to collect puzzle pieces. When one pair returned, the next pair goes until the tribe has collected all eight puzzle pieces. After that, two tribe members would have to solve a puzzle with the puzzle pieces. Once they are done, one member at a time would attempt to throw a ring out of a tall pole. The challenge had to be paused after Tika's Bruce Perreault collapsed during the challenge due to a head injury, and resumed after he was evaluated by the Medical Team, who deemed him fit to continue. Although Tika held a significant lead, Carolyn Wiger stalled on the rings, allowing Soka to win the challenge and the reward. The challenge continued until Ratu released all three rings, earning them a second-place finish and allowing them to decide which of the Savvy or Sweat tasks to perform.
In 46, the tribes raced out to collect puzzle pieces, which they then used to build a podium. One member then hopped on the podium and used a stick to free a ring from a pole. Nami was the first to complete the challenge, while Siga handily beat Yanu to take the second-place finish and the choice between the Savvy or Sweat tasks.
In 47, the challenge took place entirely in the jungle as each pair raced into the trees to collect puzzle pieces. Two tribe members would then stack the puzzle pieces into each other to form a block. Despite being the last to return with their pieces, Gata's quick work on the puzzle allowed them to beat out Lavo and Tuku to win reward.
