♪♪ Man 1: Welcome to Survivalists.

The first ever extreme family adventure competition show.

I'm your host, Colin O'Brady.

And I'm an explorer who loves to prove the impossible...

Summit!!

...is possible.

From becoming the first person to cross Antarctica solo unsupported and fully human-powered to climbing Mount Everest... Top of the World!!

...I've set ten world records and I'm a New York Times best-selling author.

I have learned that if you push yourself, you'll be amazed at what you can achieve.

Now, my wife and I work to inspire kids in their communities to achieve their biggest dreams.

Woo-hoo!

I know first-hand the value of pushing yourself in the wild.

And now each week, I'll be challenging two families, each here for deeply personal reasons, to push themselves further than they've ever been pushed before.

They will head out on a three-day adventure of a lifetime, that will test them physically, mentally and emotionally.

- We've always done everything together.

- I know, but you have to do this.

Colin: They will learn to see loved ones in a new light, rebuild relationships, and find strength as a family.

- For anybody who's ever doubted me, you don't need to doubt me anymore.

Colin: But in the end, only one family can come out on top and take home the $10,000 cash prize.

- I need this and I want this.

Colin: This week the Daynes from San Diego, California... - We're definitely a different family.

We've had some unique challenges.

Colin: ...will battle it out with the Cajustes from Austin, Texas.

- We're gonna give it everything that we've got until we cross that finish line.

Colin: Who will come out on top?

[cheering] - It feels so good!

- How bad do y'all want it?

Colin: And be this week's Survivalists.

- We are the Cajuste family.

Boy 1: One thing you should know about our family is we're very competitive.

Woman 1: We are the crazy family, but in a good way.

We keep it very real.

Boy 1: And we don't like to lose.

- We are the Daynes from San Diego.

- We aren't really into participation trophies, you know, we're in it to win it.

Woman 2: My kids, I want to see what they're made of.

They say they're tough, let's see what they can do.

Boy 2: [quick exhales] Colin: Families, welcome to Survivalists.

This is gonna be an amazing competition.

You guys feeling good?

All: [sounds of agreement] Woman 2: Feelin' great.

Colin: Cajustes, would you say your family is, you know, an outdoor-oriented family.

Man 2: No, this is definitely new for us.

Woman 1: We've never been camping before.

- The most outdoorsy things that I've done lately um, is just really mowing the lawn.

Amanda: I'm nervous, I'm not one with nature, bugs.

Ernst: But we're definitely ready for the challenge.

- I know you're probably fired up to win this thing-- Genaro: Very.

Colin: --but uh, what are you most looking forward to this week?

Genaro: Embracing family time, stepping outside of our comfort zone and just having a good time.

Amanda: Being out in Mother Nature, I'm hoping it really just kinda bring the family a little bit closer because you just really never know what tomorrow holds.

Ernst: We always feel like we have tomorrow, but Amanda lost her father, and then I lost my dad.

Amanda: [emotional] I'm sorry.

Ernst: Come on, you got this.

Genaro: You're strong, talk through it.

Amanda: [exhales] Okay.

So when I lost my dad, he told me he was always gonna be there with me, and so I know on this trip, he's gonna be with me every step.

Colin: I know that family is an important part of any journey.

Why don't you tell me a little bit about the family crest?

Ernst: We basically came up with a flag that had some of our cultural background.

The colors represent the colors of Haiti and then the star that's on there represents the star of Texas.

Colin: That's great.

Daynes family.

I noticed you guys have six and they have five.

Is it a little bit of an advantage in having an extra person, do you think?

Woman 2: I don't know.

It might be tough dragging an extra body up the hill.

[laughing] Colin: I noticed you looked at Summer when you said that, not your three strong boys there.

- My first worry is probably Summer.

She's the smallest, she's the most emotionally volatile, probably.

And I'm worried about Rick, you know he donated a kidney two years ago?

Rick: We just celebrated the two year anniversary, it was a young mom with four kids, and we just kind of felt like this was the right thing to do.

Colin: Jeremiah, tell me a little bit about the dynamic between you and your brothers.

Jeremiah: The number one thing is competition.

We're always trying to be the better athlete.

- Who would you say is the best athlete between the three of you?

Jeremiah: Me.

All: [laughing] Tyler: Ooh, you're gonna be eating your words.

- Tyler do you agree with that?

- Not in the slightest.

All: [laughing] Colin: Well, I can tell you guys have an eclectic bunch.

Robin: Well, believe it or not, we've got one more.

Colin: Okay.

- He's at home.

We're definitely a different family.

We've had some unique challenges.

Our seven-year-old has Down syndrome and autism.

And then Tyler's a miracle child.

He was diagnosed with autism.

He still struggles with that, but he's doing amazing, and um, we'll see what happens.

Colin: You want to tell me a little about this flag?

- We got the surf board, we're from San Diego.

We're all big water people.

The blue and yellow, that's the Down syndrome colors.

It's all about family.

It's all about this right here and our little guy at home.

- We're excited to have you here.

You're about to embark on an arduous 3-day, 13-mile expedition through dry brush and rolling mountains.

Day one you'll be navigating all-terrain vehicles, scrambling up a three-story boulder and climbing over 1200 feet to reach your camp for the night.

Day two you'll be challenged with the highest elevation of the race, reaching over 7,000 feet before making a steep descent and then paddling your way to your second camp.

The final day you'll race to the finish line where the first family to raise their flag will be declared the winner.

But before we get out there.

You wanna know what we're playing for?

All: Yes!

Colin: All right.

We got these backpacks right here.

Why don't you open up the backpacks and see what's inside.

- What?

Colin: The backpacks are stuffed with $10,000 of cash.

Jefferson: The opportunity to win $10,000.

That's a super big deal.

Colin: Before I release you guys into the wild, I'm gonna give you the opportunity to visit the general store where you can grab all the essential items to survive your three-day extreme expedition.

But you'll only have 90 seconds inside to find everything you need.

In order to get more time, I've set up some survival challenges.

For each challenge you win, you will add an additional 30 seconds to your clock.

First up, one of the most important skills of survival, fire.

[intense music] Colin: All right, our first competition.

The way this works, you have to build a fire using only flint, steel, tinder, and wood, but you need that fire to get going high enough that it burns the string and drops the rock into the water bucket.

Whoever's rock hits the water first, wins 30 seconds extra for their family in the general store.

Make sense?

Robin: Oh yeah.

Colin: Robin, how you feeling?

Robin: [laughing] Man, my heart's pounding.

[laughing] I am nervous, butterflies in my stomach, you know.

Colin: Zyah, how are you feeling?

Zyah: Yeah, I'm really nervous, but I'm excited, so.

Um, my family picked me for this because, I mean, I'm the only one that actually practiced starting a fire, and at home I did pretty well.

Colin: On the count of three, we begin.

Three, two, one, go.

Nice bit of tinder.

Rick: Break it apart, break it apart.

Oh, you're good.

Colin: Robin's the first one getting the magnesium.

Rick: Long smooth strokes.

Amanda: Use your strength.

Colin: I see some sparks, no flames yet.

Oh, seeing some first flames.

Rick: There you go.

Colin: Robin's the first one to have fire.

Rick: Don't smother it, don't smother it, don't smother it.

Colin: Still time for Zyah to catch up.

Ernst: That's okay, Zyah, try to get more magnesium if it's not lighting.

Colin: Robin definitely has the lead so far.

Tyler: Blow, blow, blow.

Colin: Oh, Robin looks like she's losing a little bit of that flame.

Summer: Mom, you got this!

Grace: Come on, Zyah!

Genaro: You gotta strike it hard and get a spark.

There you go.

Rick: Robin, blow hard, just blow hard on it.

Summer: Blow, blow, blow!

Yes!

Genaro: Just keep trying, keep trying.

Rick: Go, go, go, go!

Genaro: Just try to get some spark.

Rick: No, keep going, Robin.

Colin: She's blowing it, it looks like-- oh!

[cheering] Robin: Oh, it was awesome.

I've done my part.

[laughs] And you know, it's a good start.

Colin: Robin, congratulations, you've won the first challenge and 30 extra seconds for your family in the general store, but I did notice that there was a lot of chatter out of over here, was it helpful to hear your husband and your boys yelling for ya?

Robin: Yes, but I'm like inhaling smoke and they're like, "Blow harder!"

And I'm just like, "Blah."

Colin: Zyah, for you, you were fighting to the very end there.

- Yeah, It was just hard to spark it.

I was just trying to get a good angle on the thing, but it wasn't really working, but... Colin: Yeah.

Zyah: Yeah, I know it's kinda disappointing I didn't win, but we're gonna keep bringing it on.

Colin: There's plenty of time to battle back, so our next challenge is gonna be the survival skill of water.

[intense music] Colin: All right families, welcome to the water challenge.

Two of you will use these pumps to fill up these buckets, when the buckets are full, you run down to the other end, fill up the barrel.

Once you fill up the barrel high enough, you can turn on the spigot, first team to fill your bottle, wins this challenge and an extra thirty seconds for their family in the general store.

Make sense?

All: [agreements] Colin: All right, so two members of each family, come on up.

Rick: Let's go, you guys.

We got this, Summer.

- Big T!

Summer: I'm feeling nervous, but I'm also feeling proud to show what I can do.

Colin: Okay, on my three.

Three, two, one, go.

Robin: You got it, you got it, you got it.

Colin: All right, the two youngest are holding the buckets first.

Tyler: Go, go, go.

Summer, I'm a little scared about because I've never seen her compete in anything.

Rick: Way to go, Summer.

Robin: Go, go, go.

Tyler: So, I'm a little scared if she's going to break under pressure.

Robin: You got it.

Zyah: All right, Mom.

Amanda: Take it, come on, baby.

Rick: There you go, girl.

Robin: Tyler, go, go.

Amanda: I'm trying to stay focused on what we needed to do.

Come on, Grace, keep going, keep pumping.

Take the bucket, baby, go.

But then also kinda watching what they're doing, how fast they're running and how much water they're pulling, so.

Rick: You're doing great, Summer.

Genaro: You got this!

Zyah: You're doing good, Grace, let's go!

Rick: Go, go, go.

Zyah: All right, Mom, let's go.

Tyler: Just going back and forth, as fast as I can.

Pumping that thing as much as I can.

Rick: Go, go, go, go.

Colin: Things are pretty close to neck and neck at this point.

Tyler: Keep pouring water.

[confusion] Colin: Both teams are going for their spigots, but is there enough to push the water out.

It's a trickle for the Daynes, but it is slowly filling up.

Daynes brother: It needs more pressure.

Colin: Cajuste family got enough coming out now.

The Daynes are about halfway, the Cajustes' is filling up.

Whoa, it's gonna be very close.

Both of them are filling up, but the Cajustes' is filling up faster.

Looks like the Daynes might have it.

Tyler: Yeah!

Colin: The Daynes have the victory!

Whoa!

That was a nail biter!

Right down to the wire.

Summer: I just dropped the bucket, and I'm like, "We won two in a row."

Colin: Very good effort for both teams.

Wow.

Amanda: Nice job.

It was so close, and to lose by what I feel like was a centimeter was really disheartening.

Grace: We could have won, but I'm not ready to give up yet.

Colin: That looked like a hotly contested bout.

Are you still out of breath, Grace?

Grace: [laughs] Yeah.

My lungs were burning when I was running, so I had to take big breaths.

Colin: Have you ever felt altitude like that before?

Grace: No.

Colin: You don't get that in Austin, huh?

Cajustes: No.

Colin: All right, the Daynes family have won both the fire and the water challenge, however we still do have one challenge left today so the Cajuste family has a chance to catch up.

You guys ready for the third challenge?

All: [agreement] Colin: Okay, it's animal tracks.

Genaro: Wait, what?

What do you mean?

[intense music] Colin: Knowing your animal tracks in the wild is important, because knowing what's around you is key to keeping you safe out there.

The way the challenge works is this: you'll have to take this board here, which has animal tracks, and match them with boards over there at your podium that have the animals themself on them.

Whichever team matches the six animals with their tracks first, wins the game and an extra 30 seconds for their family in the general store.

Two members of each family will participate.

For the Cajuste family, that means Ernst and Genaro because you guys are the last remaining two, all right Daynes, which two are going to compete?

Rick: We're going with Jeremiah and Jefferson.

Colin: Genaro, you ever do anything like this before?

Genaro: We're from Texas, this is right up our alley.

Colin: All right.

How about you, San Diego boys, how are you feeling?

Jeremiah: I mean, shoot, we'll figure it out.

Boys: [laughing] Jeremiah: I feel pretty confident, definitely my skillset would be in any kind of puzzle or physical activity.

Colin: On my go, three, two, one, go.

Jefferson: Slide 'em all off.

Colin: All right, that's an interesting tactic.

Throwing them all out of there.

Both teams have decided to take all their tracks and flip them over first before going to the placard as well as arranging them up there.

- Hey we got some hoofs, we got some hoofs.

Colin: Jefferson feels confident about the first one.

Amanda: Come on Genaro, come on!

Colin: Genaro's still flipping the boards over.

Jeremiah: We're gonna have to get something else in there, okay, so this is a... Colin: Okay, they've got two hoofed animals down at the bottom.

Ernst feels pretty confident about there.

They've got four already up.

Jefferson: No, uh, the wolf, that's the one I grabbed.

Colin: The Cajustes have five up on the board.

Do they have five in the right spot?

That's the question.

Jeremiah: Could be a squirrel, do you have a squirrel?

That could be a squirrel.

Colin: You guys are very close, but not quite there.

You got one that's not correct.

Amanda: On the far right, it's an elk.

Jeremiah: Get the squirrel, dude.

Jefferson: Squirrel, squirrel.

Colin: Cajustes, you are the winners!

Cajustes: [cheering] Colin: Wow!

That was fast!

That was fast!

Genaro: 'Bout time!

Me and my dad, during that we worked very well together.

We had a game plan, we executed it, and we came out with a W. Colin: I thought the Daynes family took an early lead, but you guys came back strong.

Amanda: I am so excited that we finally won something.

Genaro: We are here and we are not leaving yet.

The Cajuste family is no joke.

Colin: All right families, after the three survival competitions, the score is two to one, now it's time to head to the general store to shop for crucial gear that you'll need to survive the multi-day expedition.

- Let's do this!

♪♪ [squeak] Colin: Welcome to the general store.

♪♪ [happy chatter] Robin: Thank you.

Colin: Each family gets 90 seconds to shop for what they need.

The Daynes winning the first two challenges get an additional 60 seconds and the Cajuste family get an additional 30 seconds inside the store.

The catch is, everything you bring with you from the store, you have to carry with you the entire expedition.

In addition to that, anything that does not make it in your designated circle is not coming on this expedition.

Now, I've created a list of essential items that you absolutely have to bring with you for safety and survival: flint, water bottles, water filtration, knife, first aid kit, and GPS.

If you miss any of these items, I will have to penalize you 30 minutes for each item missed at the start of the race tomorrow.

Ernst: That's a lot of time.

But you'll also notice I have not included tent, sleeping bag, food, those are all up to you, if you don't want to carry the weight, you get to make those decisions.

Rick: I'm primarily worried about carrying too much weight into the mountains and doing that three day trek with an overabundance of weight.

Amanda: As far as strategizing, we all know what we need to go in and get.

So this is going to be really interesting because I tend to do all the shopping for my family.

I'm going to be pretty curious to see how this turns out.

Colin: All right, Daynes, you're up first.

Cajuste family: You go on my second go, 30 seconds after.

Three, two, one, go.

- Go!

Colin: And they're off.

Tyler already looks like he got the water bottles, one of the essential items.

Remember, if they don't get all six, there's a 30 minute penalty at the starting line.

Rick's throwing them in, knocking kids over.

Rick: Where's the flint?

Robin: I've got the GPS!

Colin: Cajuste family, ready?

Go!

Ernst: Let's do this!

Colin: All right, Cajuste family's in there.

Grace is going the water bottles first as well.

- You got flint?

- Yep, got it in my backpack.

Genaro: Bars, bars, bars.

Colin: Bug repellent, jackets.

They need to shop carefully because everything they grab is going with them on the trek.

Rick: Make sure everything's in the circle.

Colin: If it's not in the circle, it's not coming.

Three, two, one.

Done.

Nope, nope, nope.

Amanda: Colin was like, nope.

Ernst: Yeah, Colin just said, "Nope."

Zyah: He said, "Nope."

Colin: Cajuste family, you look like you're a little bit distressed right there.

How're you feeling?

Zyah: Uh, it was a little hectic in there.

Amanda: Sometimes you can have a plan and sometimes those plans don't necessarily work out the way that they're supposed to.

Colin: Well, let's do the essential items first.

We've got flint.

We have a GPS, five water bottles, water filtration, first aid kit right there.

We got the knife.

Amanda: Phew, yes.

Colin: All right, well, there will not be any time penalties tomorrow when you start off.

Ernst, was it you that had this sleeping bag as the time was expiring?

Ernst: Yeah.

Colin: So what does that mean?

Does that mean you're sleeping with no sleeping bag out there?

Amanda: We have two people that will probably have a sleeping bag and the rest of us won't.

Zyah: I guess we'll just have to improvise.

Colin: First of all, let's start with water bottles.

You guys clearly have enough, the interesting thing is I think you doubled up.

Tyler: The last thing I want to do is go to a stream and have to siphon out some water.

We fill those things up, that's our entire day.

Colin: All right, well I like the strategy, it's a smart strategy.

You've got the water filtration, 'kay, well, we've got the first aid kit here.

We've got flint.

We've got the knife.

Rick: Oh, good color.

Colin: And the GPS.

Daynes family also have all the essential items.

Both families will be starting at the same time tomorrow, so I suggest you pack your things up, get a good night's sleep, and I'll meet you at the trailhead at sunrise to begin this competition.

See you at sunrise.

Robin: Thanks, Colin.

Rick: Let's go.

Put the little things in the backpacks.

Colin: This is Day One of their three-day challenge.

Today the Cajustes and the Daynes will have to travel five of the thirteen-mile journey.

They'll race ATVs and scale a massive three-story high boulder before they fight through loose gravel and thick underbrush on their steep climb to their first campsite.

Good morning families.

All: Morning.

Colin: How you guys doing?

All: Good.

Colin: Certainly been a back and forth battle.

Genaro, are you nervous at all?

Genaro: Not really, I'm just a little tired.

Amanda, how are you feeling about having your whole family out here?

Amanda: I'll be honest, I'm 100 percent nervous.

I didn't sleep very much last night.

Colin: Summer, I'm noticing a little necklace you've got on.

What's that?

Summer: Um, it's a token of my little brother, Eli, it's a toy.

Jefferson: So, Eli has Down's syndrome and autism.

He has his little toy, so it was just his cute little thing that reminds us of him.

Rick: Uh, there's no way we could take Eli on this.

I wish so bad he was with us, our day is consumed with our children, especially those with special needs and special needs families are more reclusive.

They go into their home, they're more comfortable in that setting.

You know, if I could, I would take every special needs family and throw 'em out in an environment like this just to experience more because the more you experience, the more well-rounded you're gonna become.

Colin: Well, I'm so glad to hear that he's here with you guys in spirit out on the trail.

Here's how this competition works.

I'm gonna give you these, which are GPS waypoints, that you can put inside your GPS, to navigate to the next stop.

Each time you reach one of the waypoints, you'll find another one of these and that'll navigate you to the next spot.

All right, families, on my go.

Three, two, one, go!

Rick: Welcome to Survivalist, pedal to the metal, it's time to leave your competition in the dust.

Rick: All right, let's go!

Colin: Good luck, guys.

See you at the finish line.

- Here we go.

Summer, you ready?

Summer: Yeah.

Robin: All right.

Rick: We don't want to crash and burn later, but really that was our opportunity to see what the other team's gonna do.

Are they speed walkers?

Summer: This speed is a little fast, but I can hang on to it.

Robin: She's rockin' it.

You got this.

This is a long race, and when the other team started running, that made me nervous.

Ernst: Grace, you don't have a backpack, you should be up here with us.

Let's go.

Keep jogging, Grace, go, speed up.

No pain, no gain.

Let's go, mama.

Amanda: Keep up, go.

Genaro: The way I look at it, is the further we go on, is the quicker we get home, so.

Um, it's just we came here to do something, we're gonna do it.

Come on, let's go.

Where's mom?

Mom, come on!

You ran a marathon!

Let's go!

♪♪ Robin: I'm a little nervous about Summer.

I, you know, as we're walking, she's kinda pulling back.

She wants to fix her bandanna.

We're gonna need to motivate.

Rick: Well, there's a road right here, and we know it's in that general direction, we're taking a gamble.

We don't know if it's gonna pay off, but we'd rather travel on a road or a trail than that.

[mooing] Robin: Look at the cows, they're leading us to where we need to go.

Tyler: I see the ATVs up there.

That's our checkpoint I think.

Robin: Where's the clue?

- On the rock, on the rock to the left.

- I got it.

Genaro: It says go up, but don't look down.

Rick: Your checkpoint is above you.

Unbuckle, unbuckle, let's go.

Ernst: Go, go, go.

Zyah: Get in, get in, hurry!

Colin: The families will have to race their ATVs across the uneven landscape and navigate to the next checkpoint where another challenge awaits.

Jefferson: That's funny because they said it's not that rock.

I don't know.

Genaro: Everybody needs to be active, we need to grab it first.

If we grab it first, we'll be ahead of them.

Zyah: What you say?

Genaro: If we grab it first, we get ahead of them, that's how it works.

Zyah: Okay, then let's do that.

Jefferson: Oh my gosh, do you need me to drive?

[engine accelerates] All right, here we go, here we go.

Genaro: It's going to be up here in these trees, I think.

Jefferson: Let's go, go, go, go, go.

Amanda: Be prepared to jump out.

Let's go.

Zyah: Hurry.

Jeremiah: Let's just go, let's just go, let's just run.

Zyah: Go, go, go.

Hurry.

Summer: It's over there!

- Oh, on the top!

On the top!

- Go, go, go!

Amanda: Take off your helmet.

Ernst: Let's go.

Jeremiah: We come up to the rock wall.

We see there's ropes coming down.

We get me in the harness, and I know I can rock climb.

Robin: 'Kay, go, go, go.

Jefferson: You got it, dude, let's go.

Watch out for the rope.

Just go.

Robin: Go, go, go.

- Okay, who wants to go?

Jeremiah: I feel really confident, this is my thing.

My family knows I can do this well, then halfway up, I get my rope snagged, that really set me back.

Amanda: All right G. Go G. Ernst: He's got his line, he's got his line.

Amanda: Go, go, go.

Rick: Nice, JJ.

Jefferson: Way to go, Jeremiah, way to go.

Robin: There you go, keep going.

Rick: You got it, you got it.

Robin: Watch the rope, watch the rope!

Rick: Spider man!

Jefferson: I'll take the clue, you get your harness and stuff off.

Ernst: Nice job, nice job, nice job.

Amanda: Yeah!

Nice job, Genaro, nice job.

Summer: The highest way is the straightest bridge home.

Amanda: I've got the GPS, I've got the GPS.

Rick: Let's go.

Tyler: Let's go.

Rick: Yeah, I think we did great on this waypoint, but don't expect us to keep that pace.

Colin: Leaving the ATVs behind, the families head into the backcountry for a mile and a half of steep elevation gain.

Jefferson: There's lots of loose rocks.

Summer: Are we doing-- Robin: You're good, you're good.

Rick: Good, good, good.

Robin: We're going fast, just careful.

Rick: Summer, you are a trooper.

Jefferson: I know that I keep a pretty high pace, and I try to get as fast as I can up these hills, and you know, frankly, I'm a little bit worried about some of the other people.

I'm worried about my mom and about Summer.

- Do you like going down holding mom's hand or would you rather be alone?

- I like mom's hand.

Rick: Okay.

- You got it.

- Ah, mom, you're twisting me.

- Okay, I gotcha, I gotcha, I gotcha, it's okay.

- Good, good.

Amanda: Where do you want to go?

Genaro, you wanna go this way or go where they're going?

- Go that way, go that way, go that way.

- Jut follow them!

- I mean this is-- ugh.

Genaro: It's open right here, just follow me, and stop complaining.

- When I get frustrated, I like to be in my own head.

I just like to talk to myself and be like, yo, calm down.

It's not that big of a deal.

But as soon as somebody says something, even if I'm on the process of calming down, it spikes right back up, and my family can testify of that.

- The checkpoint is over there.

I was gonna go straight and cross.

- You should've just went that way, it was shorter.

There's-- this is longer, there's a reason-- - Go, go, go, go.

Colin: I know firsthand how frustrating it is to be lost in the wild.

But, when you're out there, everyone has to work together as a team, and that's a lesson Genaro's gonna quickly have to learn.

Genaro: All right, bro, take the GPS.

I'm done with this.

- Whatever.

- I hate it when our family argues, and sometimes it can get super duper intense.

So, hopefully, these are gonna be opportunities that we can kind of fix that.

- Genaro, can you wait?

- The checkpoint is this way.

Zyah: Everyone is so frustrated, 'cause we realize that the Daynes family was already up the mountain.

- They're already up there.

Colin: As the Cajuste family follows Genaro's lead, the Daynes are struggling to find their bearings in the rolling hills, and they're forced to backtrack in order to find the checkpoint.

[hawk screech] Rick: Summer, what was the clue?

- The highest way is the straightest bridge home.

- It says it's 32 feet away.

This way.

Robin: We're thinking we got to the highest point and are starting to descend, and looking for a bridge, but it looks like we passed the actual highest point where we needed to be.

Jefferson: Guys, I think we might've gone right past it, I'm having issues with the GPS, and the scaling and figuring out where everything is, so it might be back up this way.

I'm gonna keep moving and see if I can get a better read on it.

Robin: Okay, Rick, grab a pack.

Jefferson: It's super frustrating to know that, you know, I just don't have a hang of our navigational system.

And I was just really upset with myself knowing that I blew all that time.

Oh, that's such poor judgment.

♪♪ - Guys, I got it.

- Oh, thank goodness.

Jefferson: I pretty much left the door open for them to come on in and close the lead.

Robin: Your family flag will welcome you to your journey's end for the night.

- Looks like we're going this way.

- All right, let's head out.

- I got your pack, man.

♪♪ - Oh, my gosh.

- You'll have a new appreciation for Mother Nature, that's for sure.

- I know I'm struggling.

I wonder how the other team's feeling right now.

This is ridiculous.

Really just, uh, trying to pace myself.

Uh, and breathe properly just to be able to get up those hills.

Keep it moving, guys.

I literally wanted to just take my backpack off and just apologize to the family and say I cannot do this.

Amanda: If you need a break, you're make sure you let us know, 'cause it's okay if you do.

Don't go getting a heart attack while we're out here.

Ernst: Nope, nope, you gotta give whatever you got.

You signed them up for this, it's your responsibility to finish it.

Genaro: We're close!

Hey, guys, it's right here.

Zyah: Whoo!

Genaro: We all have different abilities and things and strengths, so I just worry about what my family's doing, and, you know, they may have been ahead of us, but in my head, we were winning.

Your family flag will welcome you to your journey's end for the night.

Amanda: Cool.

- Don't count us out, we're not done yet.

- Can I get a Cajuste all in?

All in, all in.

One, two, three, Cajuste five!

♪♪ - You just wanna go, right Summer?

- I wanna go!

- We wanna take some shoes off.

- Yeah.

Robin: Home stretch, let's go.

Rick: There's something about visually being able to see the point, everybody on our team, all we gotta do is get to that point, we're done for the day.

Oh, my gosh.

This is it, the final climb.

[heavy breathing] ♪♪ [Ernst exhales] Genaro: I see my dad struggling a further way down the hill, and so I just decided, we can get this done quicker if I go down and help him with his pack.

- What are you doing?

- Just hold on.

- You're gonna try and take that from him?

- Yeah.

I gotcha, come on.

♪♪ Let's go.

Amanda: Genaro, don't hurt yourself though.

- Huh?

Amanda: Don't hurt yourself.

♪♪ When Genaro came down and grabbed his dad's backpack, I mean, come on.

Like, so amazing, and I was so proud, like, that was like, a male bonding moment, where, you know, Ernst wasn't all macho and was like, you know what, I got this, I got this, and he's like, no, son, trust me, you can take it.

♪♪ Ernst: I can see my son is growing up, right, just right before my eyes in this physical competition.

You know, my son is basically grabbing the reins and saying "Dad, I got you."

Genaro: We're not done yet, let's go.

Grace: Take stuff out of your pockets, it's adding weight.

Colin: I'm already seeing a huge change in Genaro.

He's quickly learning how being supportive is better than being confrontational with his family.

[upbeat music] [all breathing hard] Tyler: That's a tough day.

Rick: Yeah!

Tyler: Thank goodness.

Robin: Whoo!

- Oh.

I feel so good.

A tremendous sense of accomplishment, a tremendous sense of bonding.

My kids-- I feel fantastic.

- Congratulations, you have survived day one.

If you are the first family to arrive, you have your choice of campsite.

[cheering] Colin: With the Daynes having arrived to camp, every minute it now takes the Cajustes to reach camp is a minute they'll start behind the Daynes tomorrow morning.

Rick: Way to go, you guys!

Ernst: It's a great day.

Once we get settled and actually in our tents, it'll be an even better day.

You are the man.

My son!

Amanda: You okay, [indistinct]?

Grab your bag.

Zyah: Um, I'm very relieved right now to be done with today, it was very stressful.

Grace: The hike was really hard, I was getting tired, but I didn't stop.

Genaro: It feels good to be done and just relax and get everything set up and prepare for a good night's rest.

Colin: Both families gave it their all today, completing five of the twelve miles of their expeditions.

The less experienced Cajuste family had some early setbacks with disagreements, but they managed to rally, and got to camp just 30 minutes behind the Daynes family.

Rick: Summer, can you find me a rock?

- Dad, this one.

- That looks pretty dang good, Summer.

[wind blowing] Amanda: You gotta keep 'em connected.

- All right, they're in.

Zyah: I can't believe my family is up here right now, uh, this is-- like, I never thought we'd ever be in the mountains ever in our lives.

- I just wanted to say that I was really proud of you, when you came down and you helped your dad out, and you grabbed his backpack, that was really stellar of you.

You were just up there, just-- - No problem.

- but I appreciate that.

That's what-- that's what-- that's what it's all about.

- Yeah, I've learned, uh, that my family doesn't give up.

Today I saw it, my dad pushed to the top of the mountain, my mom pushed to the top of the mountain, my little sister Grace, ten years old, pushed to the top of the mountain, so it's all amazing and it's a great feeling and I'm very proud of them.

- We're here, we made it.

Day one, we finished it.

We did, now we're enjoying and reaping the benefits, having a nice little dinner.

- You guys don't think we pushed it too hard today at all?

Like, how do you think-- - We pushed it pretty hard.

Tyler: We pushed it hard, but Dad-- - Summer-- Summer is in the tent, completely passed out, knocked out.

- She did awesome.

I think she wanted to go to sleep so that her birthday would come faster.

- Yeah, it's her birthday tomorrow.

[laughing] - Oh, Summer's awake.

- Oh.

♪♪ Ernst: It was difficult for me today.

I appreciate, especially son, I appreciate your help, 'cause I wouldn't've been able to make it.

- He did his big brotherly... duties today.

Amanda: He did.

- I love each and every one of y'all.

- Boop.

- I love you guys too.

- I did that to Mom!

- I love you guys too.

All right, let's bring it in.

Let's bring it in.

All right.

♪♪ [wind whistling] ♪♪ Colin: The race has been extremely close so far, with the Daynes family arriving 30 minutes ahead of the Cajustes to camp last night.

That means the Daynes will have a 30-minute lead leaving camp this morning.

But, it's far from over, as the Cajustes seem very focused and intent on cutting back into that lead.

Robin: ♪ You look kind of sleepy, ♪ ♪ in fact, you look creepy.

♪ ♪ Good morning to you.

♪ - I'm pretty tired.

Robin: Are you tired?

Summer: Yeah.

Robin: Are you ready to pack up?

[Summer groans] - Good morning everybody.

- Good morning!

We finished day one!

Success.

Camp is all packed up and ready to go for our second day!

- Right now, things are going good, things are going great.

Slept all right last night, it wasn't too cold, surprisingly.

Weather was very nice.

'Bout to start our journey to our next campsite.

Amanda: Right now we're kind of just assessing the family, just kind of doing, like, kind of that, like, you know, check in to see where they're at.

Genaro's fine, he seems very clear this morning, very calm, Zyah, she seems like she's got her determined face on again.

When she's determined to do something, she kind of gets this mean-looking face.

It doesn't mean-- she's not mad, she's not mean, she's just extremely focused, and that's what I'm seeing with her this morning.

Rick: Right now, I feel like rigor mortis is kind of setting in a little bit.

Also, I haven't really done this kind of exercise, altitude, big hiking, since I donated, uh, my kidney.

Physically, I feel fine, but it's a totally different ballgame when you're out here.

You've already logged several miles, you're at altitude, you're not used to it.

You're tired, you're hungry.

It's a lot different when you're out here.

- We're gonna be hiking off this mountain soon, where our setup is.

See you in a minute.

Colin: I'm expecting both families to really push it over today's five miles, where they will face a 20-degree grueling climb before descending 2,000 feet in elevation.

They will travel against strong headwinds on stand-up paddleboards before arriving at their second campsite.

Rick: One, two, three, Daynes!

Let's go!

[Rick whoops] - You got the GPS?

- Yeah, here we go.

- Start your day by dipping low, avoid the sun, and go, go, go.

- Let's go, let's go.

- Dipping low... ♪♪ Rick: You're leading us, Summer.

Summer: Well, all righty then.

- On the way I think we should be thinking is go up, not down.

If-- like, wherever the terrain takes us, go up, not down.

- Well, I think-- - 'Cause it's easier to go down, but-- Amanda: You're talking really loud.

- As long as you're looking at the terrain, like, we make smart choices, not to just go down.

- Yeah, make smart decisions.

- Like we did last time.

Like, yesterday was pretty smart, 'cause we just didn't go all the way down, we went around.

- Okay.

I like that.

I think that's a great plan.

Genaro: We're pushing, we're driving, we're doing what we gotta do.

Um, so, yeah, we're finna make the most out of today, and, uh, do what needs to be done.

Amanda: Okay.

Let's go, let's go.

Colin: The families are starting their day with a climb to the 7,000-foot peak.

But navigating to the summit won't be easy.

One wrong turn could end up costing the family some serious time.

♪♪ Rick: Hey, what was the clue again?

Strat your day by dipping low... - Dad, hey, Dad, Dad!

The point-- the whole point of us going this way is so we can stay on this elevation.

Dude, look, we're going that way, I don't wanna have to go up and down through each of these, 'kay?

That was our mistake yesterday-- - No, we gotta stay on the trail.

- Dad, you are not listening!

Rick: [quietly] Right off the bat, they're-- they're up in the scrub brush.

- Look, do you wanna come look at the GPS?

- We gotta work as a family.

Hon, come look at the G-- go look at the GPS.

Rick: Look, you gotta stay on the trail, we're goin' the same place.

You can travel twice as fast, three times faster on a trail.

A trail is always better.

Rick: Why would you walk through that when you can walk on this?

- I'm just saying, it says to go low.

Rick: As a father, I can't just bring the boom down and say, "No, we're sticking on the trail," because they've gotta learn their lessons the hard way.

♪♪ Zyah: I think we're being really smart with the paths that we're taking and cutting some time.

Amanda: Going straight up on that path right there, you think?

Zyah: Um, I think so, hopefully there's a way we can-- Genaro: Guys, I think we should, because even if it is at the top of the mountain, they just had to walk up that steep, steep side.

Stick to the path and not go through the stuff.

So, in order to ensure our safety, we're making sure that we follow a path.

So, I lead, I-- you know, maneuver my way through the mountains, and they try to stay on that path.

- I think we should just follow the trail.

Robin: And I agree with you.

Wholeheartedly.

Jefferson: Guys, it's right here, I've got it, let's go!

- 'Kay, go, go, go!

Tyler: We need to stop this, man.

If we wanna argue, we would've stayed home.

Summer: Let me have it.

- We're at the waypoint and you can see the end of the trail.

The other team took the trail the whole way, we made the wrong decision.

But I'm not gonna point fingers.

I'm not gonna, like, get all over them about it.

They're gonna do what they're gonna do.

They're never gonna learn that lesson unless they make that mistake, and we just made that mistake.

- A silver glimmer of hope... - Glinting-- - ...glinting in the golden field.

- That is the river.

- We just need to, you know, pack up and go.

- Let's just go, let's just go.

I got it in the GPS.

Let's go.

- Let's go!

Jefferson: Grab the packs, let's go.

Colin: With the Daynes having struggled to agree on the right course to take, the Cajustes have managed to shave nine minutes off the lead by navigating up the trail.

♪♪ Genaro: Run, let's go, run!

Amanda: Run, come on, pick it up!

Genaro: Run, let's go!

It's right here, let's go!

Run!

Grace, you should run faster than that, you don't have a backpack.

Let's go.

Zyah: Dad, come on, come on.

[Ernst panting] Amanda: Hurry up, go, go, go.

Genaro: A silver glimmer of hope glinting in a golden field.

With my family, we're all very dominant, that's how we know we're being serious.

And when we get worked up, that's 'cause we truly care, and then something's bothering us.

Zyah: We're gonna go here and around, probably.

'Cause it-- it dips.

Genaro: Well, depending on how deep it dips right there, we could honestly just-- - Right.

- We are brutally honest because that's how we pick it up and keep going.

Zyah: Right, I think this is-- - If it's steep, guys, we can literally slide down.

I'm not opposed to sliding down.

Amanda: But we also have Grace.

- We're questioning everyone's bedside manner, we're trying to get each other to realize that hey, we could be frustrated, but there's ways of conveying frustration, and we're gonna keep working on it between, hopefully it'll get a little bit better.

Grace: That looks like a golden field up there!

Colin: I'm beginning to see the first signs of frustration from the Daynes.

And that's often a sign that the wild is beginning to take its toll.

Robin: Okay, guys, Cajuste family is coming down that hill behind us.

They may have gained some time.

Is off-roading and being crazy a-- a benefit?

I don't think it was; it hurt us.

I think we lost quite a bit of time.

'Kay, Rick, you gotta be careful.

- I know, that's why I'm holding on to Summer.

Robin: Maybe we should have kept following the road.

Grace: Look, they're right ahead of us, we're so close.

Zyah: When we saw the Daynes like, in front of us, it definitely gave me motivation.

Okay, we can definitely catch up to them, like they're literally right there.

Rick: Keep goin, keep goin'.

Robin: Let's go.

Rick: Follow the leader, let's follow the leader.

- It's definitely in this area somewhere.

Robin: Okay.

This looks golden over here, too.

- Look, it's pretty much all golden everywhere.

- 'Kay, I don't think the GPS is helping us, it's in this area.

Tyler: Oh, this is so frustrating.

They're gaining so much time.

Robin: I-- I can't believe they're right behind us.

I can't believe the other team is-- is right there.

They gained a lot of time on us.

Rick: Summer got it!

The other team is already caught up to us, and it took us a while to find that piece, so hopefully it takes them...longer.

♪♪ Genaro: It's telling me to walk this way.

Zyah: I found it, I found it, I found it.

Genaro: Good stuff, good stuff.

Zyah: Quick, quick.

Genaro: Hurry, hurry, hurry.

Amanda: What is it?

Grace, Grace, Grace!

Zyah: Okay, ready?

Ernst: Let's go, let's go, let's go!

♪♪ Colin: With the Cajustes hot on the trail of the Daynes, the half-mile race downhill turns into anyone's game.

[shrub brush crunching] Robin: It's frustrating.

It's frustrating that they're right there.

We're working hard, and hopefully we can get Summer pumped up, we can keep going fast.

- We're almost here.

There it is, there it is.

Okay, look, look, drop your bags, let's go back and help, let's go back and help, here we go.

Rick: Yeah, good job!

Woo-hoo!

Genaro: We need to run down the hill.

Chop it down the hill.

Amanda: How far is the checkpoint from here?

Genaro: It's right there, straight ahead.

Amanda: Can you give us a second, please, to regroup.

Genaro: This way!

- The road may well lead to your salvation.

- So, we find our waypoint, and we're just trying to get out of the way, and luckily we were able to kind of divert their attention away from where the waypoint actually was, since we went farther down the hill, so they followed us like they have been doing, and it led them past the waypoint, so I think that really worked out to our advantage.

- I think we're stuck right now, guys, I think now we just gave up whatever time we made up.

- It's this way.

Amanda: You passed it, Genaro?

- Uh, in the moment, when everybody's questioning me, it just makes me feel like they don't trust me.

Zyah: I feel like Genaro, just-- he has one perspective, and that's his, and he doesn't really think about everyone else's.

- We're losing valuable time now.

Zyah: I found it, it's right here.

Found it!

I found it!

That was a moment of relief, because I know that, well, we just cut some time, 'cause I feel like we would've kept going.

The road may well lead to your salvation.

- This thing is busted.

Ernst: No, it's not.

Amanda: Yeah, you have to take a minute to pause.

Use this as an opportunity to learn that we just need to take our time, slow down a little bit, because calmer heads prevail.

- Look, I take fault for my mistake, and I'm sorry.

Amanda: Thank you.

- So, this trip so far has made me realize a couple things about myself.

I need to be more open to how everybody's feeling, and it's not just me who's, you know, going through it, everybody else is going through it in their own way, um, and there's more things to life than just being mad at everybody and-- and just getting angry about things.

- We're learning, right, so this is our-- this is the first mistake of the day.

And it's not a horrible mistake.

'Cause it's not like we-- we were over there and then the spot was here.

Zyah: Right.

- My energetic jolt just get to me, so I listened to what my mom said and I regrouped and we're gonna be good.

Amanda: Okay, let's go.

Genaro: 'Kay, let's go.

Let's go.

Colin: The Daynes are now back in the lead and have the ability to take control over this two-mile descent.

Robin: No, run.

Rick: This pace is good, pace is good, we're goin' good.

- Come on, Summer.

Come on.

Colin: But I've found descending on tired legs can be even harder than climbing up.

- Come on, guys, almost there!

Oh, Summer, there's the water.

♪♪ Jefferson: Guys, right here, come on, Summer, let's go!

You can do this!

Robin: Go, go!

Jefferson: Come on, Summer, it's all you!

Robin: Summer's tuckered.

I'm trying to psych her up.

Jefferson: Come on, Summer, right-- right here!

Robin: Wheels!

I got you, I got you, I got you.

Jefferson: You're doing so good!

Robin: You know, it's all about the mind.

It's all about the mind.

You got ‘em, you got ‘em.

So, um, we're workin', huh?

- Yeah.

Robin: We're a good team.

- Paddle around the peninsula to finally rest your head.

Colin: For the next leg, the families must paddle over a mile through choppy waters, facing harsh winds as they attempt to make it to their campsite.

Rick: I'm really hoping this is the event that we win.

This is what separates us.

♪♪ Genaro: Run, let's go!

Amanda: Okay, come on, stretch!

Grace: Ouch.

- I got it, I got it.

Jefferson: We're just going as fast as we can, that's our plan.

Stay as close to the wall as we can, try to get out of that wind, 'cause we know it's gonna be killer.

We feel pretty comfortable with our skills.

Rick: I just thought, this is it.

This is where we won this.

And, uh, turn around and there they were.

Amanda: We're coming up on our competitors' tails, I can see it.

They're lookin', they're watchin'.

♪♪ There's several times while you're out there that feel like you just wanna throw in the towel but then you look and the Daynes are right there, and you're like, oh, heck no, just dive in deep and give everything that you have and you push through the pain and the discomfort.

It's just-- it pushes you, and it drives you, for sure.

[Rick talking indistinctly] Rick: So, I thought Tyler would be last, just because, you know, he's a 230-pound kid, but he got down on his knees, got streamlined, and just-- [imitating splashing sounds] --powered through it.

It was...really amazing to see.

♪♪ Robin: Good job!

Summer: Congratulations, you have survived day two.

If you're the first family to arrive, you'll have your choice of campsite.

- Sweet.

[cheering] Rick: He led us home today, this victory is his.

You were killin' it, dude!

What got into you?

Tyler: I'm gonna go wash my feet off and maybe pass out in the water, but you guys do what you're doing, okay?

♪♪ Genaro: I got a little tired, and I was ready to just be like, okay, I need to take a break, but, um, my little sister, she encouraged me to keep going.

Matter of fact, she even started paddling at the front of the board.

- When Genaro's struggling, I started to put my hands in the water and do this like I was swimming.

Keep going!

- It was definitely some encouragement that I needed to keep going and just push on through.

Grace: Keep going!

Colin: It's great to see Genaro really start to recognize that it's better to be part of the solution than part of the problem.

[water splashing] - I got it.

Come on.

♪♪ Colin: Today, both families faced struggles.

But, the Cajustes, by working together, have been able to pick up some time.

And the Daynes will now start the final day only 14 minutes in the lead.

They'll have to keep an eye on Rick's deteriorating stamina.

♪♪ Rick: How are we gonna win this tomorrow?

What's our strategy?

- I think tomorrow is all about attitude and who wants it more.

- Can I talk about the other family?

I got so much respect for them, the way they're playing this game.

I don't know how we get through the last day.

- All right.

- All right, it's raining, let's get inside.

- Yep.

- Okay, right now, we're in like, a really big storm, there's like so much wind!

You can tell by the front and everything-- Ah!

So, we're trying our best to survive the night, if you don't see us tomorrow morning, then goodbye.

[wind whistling] ♪♪ Ernst: I think it's about six something.

[yawning] Rick: Last day.

Ernst: Sore, cold, tired, but, um... just one more push and hopefully we can get through this.

Robin: So, we woke up this morning... Rick told me that he wasn't feeling well.

Rick: I don't know what's going on, I just-- I felt sick all night, I feel sick this morning.

I can't carry a pack.

- I'm carrying it.

No big deal.

That's no big deal.

- I'm sorry I'm sick.

Jefferson: Hey.

- No, okay, stop it, stop.

Okay, look at me.

No big deal.

His-- his body is telling him... he's done.

Man 3: Just take a couple deep breaths, nice big breaths in through your nose, out through your mouth.

- I just had my two-year kidney donation anniversary, and, um, my body just isn't, uh, I can't do this anymore.

- Dad's not gonna let you know, but he's not good, okay?

This is serious.

We knew that there were risks.

He saved that family; he saved that mom.

'Kay?

You guys don't say another word to him about "dig deep," 'kay?

He's been digging deep.

Win or lose, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

You know, this is who we are.

Um, we do hard things.

We're gonna build each other up.

It's about family.

It's about getting all of us across, got it?

Jeremiah: All right.

Tyler: Yes.

- 'Kay.

- I'm good.

Robin: Rick.

Don't say you're good unless you're good.

♪♪ Rick: Y'know, I just wanna-- just wanna finish.

Just wanna finish.

I wanna say a special thanks to Jefferson for navigating.

'Cause it ain't easy.

Robin: Mm-hm.

And, uh, I think maybe I've been a little critical, so thank you.

I really appreciate it.

Robin: We're a family... for eternity.

And so, we're gonna stick it out together.

- When the going gets tough today, I want you to think about Eli.

Jefferson: Eli doesn't care about the money at all, I'll tell you that.

[laughing] He just loves to see us moving.

- We are the great Daynes.

And we finish strong.

And we will finish strong.

No matter what happens, we finish strong.

Jefferson: One, two, three-- All: Eli!

Amanda: All right, guys, all day yesterday, we were shaving time, we were constantly on their heels.

Honestly, I think we're seconds behind them, that's how I feel.

- You know Grandpa, right?

Grandpa always says, grandpa always says... Amanda: Let's get a-- Let's get a "Yeah, buddy."

Ready, one, two, three-- All: Yeah, buddy!

Ernst: To, uh, my father, to Amanda's father, we got this, and this is for you guys, all right?

All the way.

♪♪ Colin: Both families have done an amazing job these past two days.

To have a demanding battle over this unrelenting course with only 14 minutes separating them going into this final day is awe-inspiring.

But it's not over yet.

- Okay, here we go.

- The gentle giant will lead the way.

- That mean Tyler's running point?

All right, let's go.

The families will begin their final three miles by clambering 900 feet to the rocky peak.

They'll then follow the ridgeline back down as they race to the finish line.

Ernst: We'll be right behind you, Daynes.

- The dad wasn't wearing his pack, so he might be feeling it.

That might slow 'em down a little bit.

- We're gonna be winners regardless, doing something that we never thought we could do, so either way, we have already won.

Now, let's just add some money to it.

- The gentle giant will lead the way, I'm gonna say this mountain's probably the gentle giant.

Looking up the face of that mountain-- definitely a formidable task.

We're pretty worried about my dad.

Robin: I'm Dad, today.

I'm Dad, I'm carrying the weight.

- I personally was questioning if we were gonna be able to even continue.

- A little rough morning, but I, uh, I'm shaking it off and we're get--we're get-- [shivers] --we're gonna g-get going.

Just need to get the juices flowin'.

- If he's suffering, he's not gonna show it, that's what I know.

- I'm good, man.

Totally.

- Problem at hand, how are we getting through this?

- We can get around the whole thicket right here.

Jefferson: Yeah, this is good, guys.

This is good.

♪♪ Amanda: You should've went on the outside on the other way.

Grace: There's multiple branches out here.

Amanda: All right, guys, come on, we're gonna have to do some climbing here.

- Grace, watch your feet.

Amanda: Come on, guys, we're gonna go around these trees.

Rick: Jefferson, Ty, you guys are doing awesome.

Jefferson: Thank you, Dad.

Rick: Thanks for leading the way.

For each step I take, I feel like the cobwebs are just... comin' off like the shackles that I was feeling that were binding me down were just comin' off.

Everybody, imagine Eli in your head.

He's at the top and he's looking down on us.

Even though he wasn't here physically, every single hill, I could just see him at the top of the mountain.

Let's go!

He just brings a smile to your face, and I think it gave me the motivation.

Summer: We can do this.

I'm not as tired as I was yesterday.

Jefferson: Hey, guys, I can see the Cajuste family.

Genaro: Let's go!

Come on!

Right now, I feel like it's our game.

We are within maybe a minute to seconds with the Daynes.

We're gonna go up and then cut to the side.

Zyah: Okay.

- Coming into this, I didn't think that we were equipped to be able to handle this.

But this family that I have has shown me that, um, there's nothing that we really can't do.

Guys, over here, push it, let's go!

Robin: Summer, I'm right here, let's go!

Summer: Got it!

- You know I think we were super worried about Summer.

We had no idea how she was gonna perform.

Summer: Thanks, Mom.

Robin: Yep.

Go, go, go.

- But Summer's haulin' up the hill.

She's blazing her own trail.

Summer: I got it.

I wanna do this by myself.

I just wanna show my brothers what I can really do.

Robin: Summer, photo finish, photo finish.

- We're so proud.

Jefferson: Waypoint, here it is, guys, here it is.

Mom, let's go.

- Drop your pack, help me out.

Rick: I got her!

I got her.

Go, go, go.

- Don't enjoy the view too long, it's time to make your final push.

Colin: As the Daynes begin descending towards the finish line, the Cajustes are right on their heels... Genaro: It's at the top of that peak!

Colin: ...in this tight race.

Genaro: Grace, go look up by that rock.

Me and Gracie were taking the charge.

- I found it!

- It's right here!

Ernst: This is the final stretch so whatever happens here, we've gotta give it everything we have.

Genaro: All right, let's go, come on, get up!

Get up, get up!

- They're sprinters, so they're only gonna close the gap.

Genaro: Dad, this is where we cut time.

- Just a little bit farther!

- Go, go, go.

- Come on, hurry!

- Guys, I think I see the finish line!

- Until we are at the finish, there is no stopping.

Jefferson: Let's go!

Robin: We've come this far, we're this close, let's do this.

Colin: Daynes family!

You've made it to the last checkpoint.

What you need to do is you need to take all these pieces, build your flagpole, and get it standing straight up in the air.

- Dad and Jefferson start whamming that thing into the ground.

We're getting the pieces together.

We know any minute the Cajustes could come out of that mountain.

- This is gonna be close.

Genaro: No pain, no gain, let's go!

Robin: Let's put it up.

Colin: Let's see if it's gonna stand, the last moment.

Is it gonna stay?

Rick: Call it!

Colin: Daynes, you guys are the winners!

[cheering] Jeremiah: That was the moment, and there was just so much joy.

[cheering] Colin: Congratulations!

Rick: To Eli!

Tyler: Yeah!

- What we have gained being out here, seeing Tyler thrive, Summer's independence.

Jefferson-- he's a natural-born leader.

I'm so proud.

Colin: $10,000 in cash!

[cheering] Colin: Open those up!

[Rick exclaiming] - I was impressed.

You guys hustled.

Looks like you guys worked together as a team the whole time.

- I'm just so-- so pumped, so psyched, and so proud of everybody.

This is great, this money is great, but this is more valuable than all of that in the world.

- That's incredible.

You carried the totem of Eli with you the entire way, kind of feel like he's been here with you on this journey?

- We expected to see him at the top of the hill.

[laughing] Robin: From the moment Eli was born, he had to fight for everything.

He had to fight to eat, fight to grow.

Now we can prove we're just as much fighters as he is.

Colin: That's amazing, I'm so proud of you guys.

What I'm seeing is a cohesive family unit that have overcome adversity in the outdoors, and that's what this is all about.

Well done.

Rick: Thank you so much.

Robin: Hey, good job.

Way to stick it through.

Jefferson: Hey, way to go, Summer.

Robin: Hey, Jefferson-- - You're such a big part of that.

- We always thought, you're only as fast as your weakest link, but our weakest link-- it was real fast.

- And I was not your weakest link.

- That's right.

- Ooh.

- Who was the weakest link?

- Dad.

[laughing] ♪♪ Colin: Genaro, come on in, man.

- When I turned the corner and I saw that the Daynes family's flag was up, it honestly gave me more motivation to finish.

- Amanda's pushing hard, Genaro's got both the backpacks.

- I put my last all into it, and I made sure we got there.

Colin: Wow.

Cajuste family, welcome to the finish line.

- We did say that we were gonna run across that finish line as a family.

I think we ended up doing that.

- Now, I know, obviously, in any challenge like this, you're gonna face some adversity.

Amanda: Yep.

- Talk to me about how you've come together and gelled as a family.

- Honestly, I didn't think we'd make it past the first day.

We were just completely at each other's throats, right?

But, from the first day up until this very moment right now, I mean, I've just seen a lot of growth with my three children, and, like I said, my son.

I'm supposed to be the alpha male of the house, but I can start passing that rein along now.

This kid here... he's just grown up.

Just taken charge over the last two and a half days.

Just the respect he has for his mom and I... thank you.

- The resilience, but also the change over the course of the week.

That's what I love seeing out here.

- It's not about the money.

This was a good opportunity-- I don't really get to see my mom a lot, she's always working.

I'm just thankful that my family didn't give up, they've showed me something that I've never seen before, and-- and that's the reason why I love my family.

So, being out here has actually given me a-- little bit of insight on what I need to do to make my future better, so.

Amanda: Just can't explain how it feels to see... your firstborn be a young man.

- That's on me.

My bad.

- Way to go, you made me cry.

[laughing] - Honestly, even though we aren't walking away with the $10,000, we didn't come here with it.

So, it's okay that we're leaving without it.

Because we gained so much more than that $10,000.

I'm telling you, this team.

This is my family right here.

They always got my back and I got theirs.

Nice job, y'all.

Ernst: Good job.

Rick: Good job.

[music fades]