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
The challenge debuted in Survivor: Vanuatu in Episode 3, after Lopevi won the Reward Challenge, they earned the right to compete for Individual Immunity. In a tight race between John Kenney and Chad Crittenden, John K. ultimately won.
In Survivor: 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 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 Survivor: 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 in episode 12 of Survivor: Caramoan. The final seven raced to maneuver a key through a series of obstacles in the water, then use 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 Survivor: 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.
Winners
Episode | Challenge Type | Winner |
---|---|---|
Vanuatu Double Tribal, Double Trouble |
Tribal Reward | File:S9 brady t.jpgFile:S9 chad t.jpgFile:S9 chris t.jpgFile:S9 johnk t.jpg File:S9 johnp t.jpgFile:S9 lea t.jpgRory FreemanFile:S9 travis t.jpg Lopevi |
Individual Immunity | File:S9 johnk t.jpg John Kenney | |
Fiji A Smile, Velvet Gloves and a Dagger in My Pocket |
Individual Immunity | File:S14 boo t.jpg Boo Bernis |
Micronesia Stir the Pot! |
Individual Immunity | File:S16 amanda t.jpg Amanda Kimmel |
Caramoan The Beginning of the End |
Individual Immunity | File:S26 erik t.jpg Erik Reichenbach |
Cagayan "It's Do or Die" |
Individual Immunity | File:S28 spencer c.png Spencer Bledsoe |
Gallery
Trivia
- This is the first Individual Immunity Challenge to be held before a Double Tribal Council.
- Amanda Kimmel is the only female 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, all four 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 hadn't given the Immunity Necklace to Natalie Bolton and gotten voted out in the previous episode.
- However, all four 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 would also compete for Individual Immunity as it was a Double Tribal Council).