Great Escape Run (also known as Twisted, Crystal Method, Fun Climb, and Jacob's Ladder) is a recurring individual physical challenge that debuted in Survivor: Vanuatu, and has since reappeared in Fiji, Micronesia, Caramoan, and Cagayan.
Rules[]
Castaways must race to obtain ladder rungs either buried in sand or stored in a chest. When they have their rungs, they will build a ladder and climb up to the top. The first person to finish wins.
History[]
United States[]
The challenge debuted in Vanuatu ahead of the Double Tribal Council. After Lopevi won the Reward Challenge, they earned the right to compete for individual immunity at their Tribal Council. In a tight race between John Kenney and Chad Crittenden, John K. ultimately won.
In Fiji, the challenge was split into two rounds; Boo Bernis, who had won an advantage in the previous Reward Challenge, was able to skip the first round and automatically made it through to the second round. In the first round, the contestants had to dig up three climbing steps and bring them to the finish line. The first two contestants moved on. Those two (and Boo) would use the climbing steps as stairs to provide holders on a 12-foot pole in the water, making a pseudo-staircase until they can get on top to grab a flag. Dreamz Herd and Alex Angarita won the first round, facing Boo in the second round. In the second round, Boo managed to grab his flag first, winning immunity.
The challenge was later used in Micronesia as the final four Immunity Challenge where the first part of the challenge was played according to the rules of Vertigo. Although Natalie Bolton maintained a lead early, Amanda Kimmel eventually caught up and beat Natalie in assembling the ladder, granting Amanda a spot in the final three.
The challenge re-appeared as the final seven Immunity Challenge of Caramoan. The castaways raced to maneuver a key through a series of obstacles in the water, then used the key to unlock a chest of ladder rungs. Erik Reichenbach won in a clean sweep.
The challenge appeared as the final five Immunity Challenge in Cagayan. Tony Vlachos was leading all the way until he struggled with the final puzzle. This allowed Spencer Bledsoe to catch up and defeat him for immunity.
Australia[]
The challenge appeared in Titans v Rebels. After chopping a rope to release their planks, each tribe would use the planks to build a ladder, before dissembling that ladder to use the planks to complete a rope bridge. Once the tribe had crossed the bridge, two puzzlemakers would arrange the planks into a hanging puzzle, which one tribe member would throw coconuts at to knock down. The Rebels and Titans traded the lead early on, but Kelli Harris' failure in assembling the rope bridge cost the Rebels dearly, as they fell into complete dysfunction and were unable to catch up to the Titans. With footballer Nathan Freeman taking charge of the coconut toss, the Titans defeated the Rebels handily before they could even complete their puzzle, sending them back to Tribal Council.
South Africa[]
In Island of Secrets, four tribe members had to use ropes to control planks and make their way across a series of obstacles. At each checkpoint, another tribe member will clip on another pair of planks, and the group will make their way to the finish mat. The group will also retrieve a key from a high post on their way to the mat. Once at the end, the tribe will dissemble the planks and use them to solve a puzzle staircase, after which the two remaining tribe members will land sandbags on five crates. Laumei fell behind after Durão Mariano struggled on the obstacle course, and although Jacques Burger helped to make up ground on the sandbag toss, it was not enough to help them win immunity over Ta'alo and Sa'ula.
The challenge appeared as the first tribal Immunity Challenge of Immunity Island. The two tribes first raced out into the water to collect five sets of ropes, which two members would hook up onto a rope ladder, allowing the tribe to climb up to the second story of a tower. One tribe member would then untangle a bundle of ropes to build a second rope ladder. Once the tribe was at the top of the tower, two members would solve a jigsaw puzzle spelling out "IMMUNITY ISLAND". Zamba fell behind on the first stage of the challenge, but Vuna lost their lead on the second rope ladder. However, the latter tribe was able to complete their puzzle first, winning immunity and sending Zamba to Tribal Council.
Winners[]
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Vanuatu "Double Tribal, Double Trouble" |
Tribal Reward | Lopevi |
Individual Immunity | John Kenney | |
Fiji "A Smile, Velvet Gloves and a Dagger in My Pocket" |
Individual Immunity | Boo Bernis |
Micronesia "Stir the Pot!" |
Individual Immunity | Amanda Kimmel |
Caramoan "The Beginning of the End" |
Individual Immunity | Erik Reichenbach |
Cagayan "Straw That Broke the Camel's Back" |
Individual Immunity | Spencer Bledsoe |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Titans v Rebels "Where Angels Fear to Tread" |
Tribal Immunity | Titans |
Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
---|---|---|
Island of Secrets "I'm Not Gonna Buy This B.S." |
Tribal Reward/Immunity | Ta'alo |
Sa'ula | ||
Immunity Island "Nothing Unites Like a Common Enemy" |
Tribal Immunity | Vuna |
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is the first individual Immunity Challenge to be held before a Double Tribal Council.
- Amanda Kimmel is the only woman to win this challenge.
- This challenge was used in both Fans vs. Favorites seasons.
- Erik Reichenbach, Ami Cusack, Eliza Orlins, and Yau-Man Chan have all competed in two seasons to feature this challenge.
- However, each of them have only competed in the challenge once.
- Erik was only present at the challenge in Caramoan, Ami and Eliza were only present at the challenge in Vanuatu, and Yau-Man was only present at the challenge in Fiji.
- Erik would have been present at the challenge in Micronesia if he had not given the Immunity Necklace to Natalie Bolton and gotten voted out in the previous episode.
- However, each of them have only competed in the challenge once.
- This challenge has been used for individual immunity in every season it has appeared in (in Vanuatu the tribe won a reward, but players also competed for individual immunity as it was a Double Tribal Council).
References[]