Expedition Impossible Recap: There's Snow in Morocco?
Jul 15 2011 01:55 am ET
With the Atlas Mountains looming and the temperatures reaching the below freezing markers, the teams had to adjust to a change of climate. No more sand this week on Expedition Impossible, just a lot of snow and dirt. The groups were given braided bracelets to wear for a future challenge. Of all the teams, The Country Boys were nervous mentally because Chad would probably have issues with elevations, just like he did with the sand dune. To make it worse, the altitude is a lot higher now.
Dave explained that the contestants would have to walk to the top of the ridge and follow the ridgeline to the first checkpoint. The Gypsies got a "head start" though if I had the choice between a few minutes and a trip sponsored by Travelocity like The Amazing Race, I'd take the trip. They didn't even bother telling us that it was probably less than five minutes. They were followed by wave two (The Blind, The Country Boys), three (Ballers, the Gays, Firemen), and four (Cops, Pink, Kansas, Fishermen)
At around 9,700 Feet Up we learned that Blind Erik survived climbs by one of the teammates illustrating the terrain with words. I wonder if the descriptions are ever, "Walk around those beautiful grey rocks" and Erik has to figure out what made the rocks so beautiful in the first place. The Country Boys immediately fell to fourth, then fifth, then sixth. Of all the teams passing the Pinks were excited. They decided that a positive spirit is stronger than altitude sickness.
To no one's surprise the Gypsies arrived at the checkpoint in first. The clue instructed teams to create a fishing line with a hook from the provided bracelets and hook a cage with a key that was below the side of the cliff. By the time the middle pack teams arrived both the Blind and Gypsies were gone. We learn further instructions: only one member could do the task and not change places. So this was the equivalent of The Amazing Race Roadblock. AJ decided to do the challenge after his sister decided to not listen; it was probably for the better since, Pink Brittany started fishing for her group unsuccessfully.
The Gypsies got the following clue to hike down the mountain and go to the base point. The blind and Footballers headed out next. The Country Boys finally arrived in last, to the fishing challenge but with so many teams fishing for their clues they managed to have luck on their side and leave before several teams.
Everyone except for Pink, Firemen, and the Gays thought the hooking challenge was a piece of cake. Brittany was in tears because she was not able to feel her body. Fathead thought that the whole challenge was a joke. Gay AJ screamed as he threw his hook imagining every childhood fight he had with his sister. In his fourth throw he managed to get a key and the team headed out. What upsets me the most was that AJ complained so much, but got the key in only four tries. That's a 25% hook rate and that didn't even factor that AJ could have gotten duds. The gays were in 8th and Keri wanted to make sure everyone hustled so that they would finish by sundown. AJ slipped and continued to complain about how miserable he was. Eventually Fathead got his key. Pink was ready to camp for the night right there but Fathead tried his best to help Brittany. He coached her through and she managed to get the key. The two teams set off as a pair to the check in. The Firemen admitted to Dave that they couldn't leave the women there.
At night, everyone started to complain about the blustery horrible conditions. One large gust of wind opened up one of the "tents" which looked like a tarp attached to a stick.
In the morning, everyone was in pain and tired. Host Dave explained that the contestants would go west out of the snow and follow the dirt road to find a farming village. The Gypsies left in first with only a three minute advantage. I could have sworn previous weeks were at least five minutes: they were cheated two minutes, not like they needed it. They were followed by basically the same waves of contestants [Blind, Footballers] [Fisherman, Cops, and Kansas] [Gays, Pink, Firemen, and Country Boys]. As much as the Country Boys fought to stay close, they ironically started day two in last place.
Kansas struggled with the thinning air, as the Firefighters, Gays, and Pink overtook them. On the other extreme, the Gypsies were so excited to be in the front to experience in the change of climate. The gypsies arrived at the village to their next clue. They need to get an unassembled plow, and lead a mule 2.5 miles up switchbacks. The blind were lost and they were helped by a local child to give them directions; that's the first local that gave a team useful information. They gave him a candy bar as his reward. The Blind (and Footballers) packed up and headed out
In the back Kansas just wanted to make sure they weren't last, even though Chad was slowly closing in. The Firemen, Gays, Pink, Fishermen, and Cops all headed out trying to gain time. In 8th, the gays continued to drag AJ across. Kari and AJ continued to bicker like the siblings that they are. Kari wants to do well; AJ just knows that there were two teams behind them, so it wasn't worth the effort to gain one spot. AJ was smart enough to know that the top three would be the Gypsies, Footballers, and the Blind. Luckily, the ex-boyfriend helped AJ get through the drama.
The contestants grabbed their clue to drive their product placement SUVs with their plow to a field. Kansas finally got their mule and plow and headed out right as the Country Boys arrived. The Gypsies read the next clue, which was assembling the plow, and plow for the finish directions. From the glance of instructions we got, it looked like a small Ikea instruction manual with photos for reference.
Footballers, Cops, Fishermen, Firemen, Pink, and Gays were the middle pack. Two hours behind, the Country Boys and Kansas were still going up the switchback. Chad ingeniously decides to get on the mule and they made more time. Kansas saw Chad on the mule and yet none of the girls decided to ride the mule as well. They were also not as heavy as the boys. Kansas continued to push as Chad walked with the mule. Country Boy Jason was collecting rocks, ready to go home.
In sheer luck, the Gypsies found their needle first; they were followed by blind. The middle teams all arrived. As sick as AJ was, he ended up assembling the plow. To no surprise, the Gypsies were first again, with the Blind right behind them.
All the middle teams complained about the difficulty, as the footballers, firemen, fishermen, and cops got the clue. Pink struggled as they lucked into another clue. Soon afterward, the Gays got their clue. Ryan and the rest of the team wobbled their way to the leg checkpoint.
Kansas and The Country Boys were fighting for their lives. The two teams put together their plows and the country boys were digging more effectively because of their pattern. Pink and Gay arrived in 7th and 8th. Both teams struggled with finding a clue but with Kansas and Country Boys so far ahead, they clearly didn't. Kansas stopped every few minutes when a rock got caught. The girls started to lightly kick their way to a canister as the country boys were more methodical. They found their clue and headed out, flustering the girls. The show decided not to even edit some form of battle between the two of the siblings. The girls continued to struggle with their plow as Lindsey started crying. They got their canister and left disappointed.
The girls were proud of their race, but were helicoptered too early. The next challenge doesn’t bode well at all for the only all-female team left. The pinks will need the support of the Firefighters if they really want to survive.
Michael Pascua - TVLatest.com
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