♪♪ Colin: Welcome to a brand-new season of Survivalists, the adventure show where families face nature's most extreme challenges together, using the healing power of the outdoors to strengthen bonds and mend family wounds.

I'm your host, Colin O'Brady.

This season, we're venturing south to the pristine peninsula of Baja, Mexico.

♪♪ People across the country have submitted why they think Survivalists can provide the breakthrough their family needs.

♪♪ Taking on the challenge this week is the Raymond family from Glenside, Pennsylvania.

Boy 1: My name is Christopher Raymond.

I'm 14 years old.

My brothers and I are adopted, and we work really hard to make sure our relationships with our parents are really strong.

I used to have a great relationship with my dad, but the older I get, I feel like it's harder to connect with him.

He's either always working, or he's exhausted after coming off of work.

We don't really talk at all.

I need us to go on Survivalists; that way, we can reconnect with each other.

Colin: And they'll be up against the Trop family from Troy, New York.

Boy 2: My name is Joshua Trop.

I'm 13 years old.

I hate to say it, but I am a bit of a perfectionist.

When something's not perfect, I feel frustrated and lash out at my family, but mainly my sister.

I want a better relationship with my sister because I should be building her up, not tearing her down.

Colin: We'll be asking them to dig deeper physically... Man 1: Come on, Aidan!

Woman 1: It's way too high.

How am I supposed to keep going?

Colin: ...mentally... Colin: And most importantly, emotionally... Woman 2: We came in together; we're finishing together.

Colin: ...as they compete for a $10,000 prize.

Woman 1: The other team's behind us!

Christopher: Home stretch, guys, home stretch!

Colin: This is Survivalists.

♪♪ Families: [cheer] Man 1: Yes!

Colin: Raymond family, Trop family, welcome to Survivalists!

♪♪ Ever been in an environment like this before?

Colin: [laughs] Woman 1: We're from upstate New York.

We've never seen more cactus in our life.

- Harmony, it's great to have you here.

Talk to me about your relationship with your older brother.

Harmony: Our relationship isn't great 'cause we fight a lot.

That's one of the things I want to improve while we're here.

Colin: Josh, in your plea, you said that you have a bit of a perfectionist personality.

- I get set off by the tiniest little things that aren't right.

I would have to say that's also a big role in why we fight 'cause the littlest things get on my nerves.

- Sarah, I wanna hear the motherly perspective on this.

What are you hopin' to see this week from both Josh and Harmony?

- What I wanna see is them work together for, uh, something that's hard, with grace, and understanding that it's okay if it doesn't go exactly as planned.

Josh and Harmony, you know, oil and water.

That starts with Josh's expectations, wanting something a certain way, and then she gets upset because she feels like she should have the freedom to do things differently.

Colin: This is a golden opportunity because you're gonna get tired, it's gonna be challenging, but, when you stay together as a family, that is really the key to winning this race out here.

Raymond family, great to have you here.

Chris, you told me in your plea that your relationship with your father might be a little bit strained.

- Me and my father, we used to have a great connection when I was younger, but as I got older, we basically broke apart in a way.

Colin: Fritz, what does a win look like to you?

Colin: Yeah.

Colin: I love the intentions being set on both sides to bond, and, hopefully, both families that we see at the finish line are closer than ever before and have repaired and mended some relationships.

Now, let's get down to business.

This is Season 3, so we're gonna go bigger than ever before.

You guys are gonna be out here for four days and three nights.

That's a whole day longer than ever before.

Second of all, this year, goin' completely old school.

There is no GPS navigation.

Navigation is strictly with a compass and a series of maps.

Woman 2: What?

Chris: What, no, there's no way.

There, there is no way.

Sarah: Woo!

Colin: And lastly, we are starting this competition right now!

- Woo hoo!

[scattered applause] Colin: This is your very first map.

Wait for my go.

On three, all right?

Three, two, one, go!

All right.

Boy 3: Just get any bag.

Fritz: This is bad!

Colin: All right, good luck, you guys!

This season takes us all the way to Baja, Mexico, and this week, families are in the La Paz region on the eastern side of the peninsula.

Over the next four days, these families will each travel different routes over 20 miles through barren desert, shark-infested waters, unforgiving sand dunes, and dangerous mountain peaks, all in temperatures near 100 degrees.

Their first day will see them hiking four miles through cactus fields and sand dunes to make it to their first camp.

[wind whistling] Woman 2: ♪ To the left, to the right, ♪ ♪ left, right, left.

♪ [laughs] Christopher: If we're doing songs, can we at least sing a good one?

Woman 2: All right, well, what song we singin', what song we singin'?

Christopher: I was gonna say Father Abraham.

Woman 2: ♪ Father Abraham ♪ Woman 2 and Christopher: ♪ Had many sons ♪ ♪ And many sons had Father Abraham ♪ Christopher: My relationship with my dad is pretty complicated.

We don't really talk as much as we used to, and we're pretty much far away 'cause he's always busy.

At the end of the race, I think the best case scenario is that, win or lose, we have a bond that was stronger than the one that we had before.

Woman 2: Wait a minute, babe, I think you're goin' the wrong way.

Woman 2: This way.

Colin: Moving swiftly from the outset, the Raymonds are off to an early lead, just over two minutes ahead of the Trops.

Man 2: You guys excited?

Harmony and Josh: Yeah.

Harmony: My feet already hurt, though, which is not a good sign.

Josh: I'm a little antsy.

Sarah: From what?

Josh: Everything.

When something isn't, like, perfect, I react, um, aggressively, and I'm not in control of my emotions, and I'm just not overly nice.

So, in my family, I would say mainly my sister, though.

I think this is the bend that we're supposed to turn at.

Now, I personally think we should go that way.

Sarah: It's kind of just a slight turn.

Man 2: Yeah.

Sarah: So I think that might be... Man 2: Too much.

- Too much of a turn.

- I think we should just take this route here.

Hannah: No, 'cause it's too much of a turn.

Josh: We gotta keep walkin' that way.

Being in the wilderness, I'd say it's gonna be a little tough.

Man 2: I think that was our 90 degree right here.

Sarah: Then we'll go back and do the 90, and hopefully, it's right up ahead.

Josh: But if it isn't, then we're seriously stuck.

Woman 2: Ooo.

Fritz: What?

Woman 2: That looked like a snake skin.

Woman 2: I'm just sayin'.

Woman 2: No, that is a snake skin, isn't it?

Woman 2: Wait, no.

Christopher: Wait, it says go straight.

Fritz: It's straight.

Woman 2: I gotta follow the compass.

Christopher: Uh, but the map says keep goin' straight.

- Yeah, but the compass is tellin' me somethin' else.

Boy 3: We're in the desert, we're struggling with the compass, and I knew this was gonna happen because we're just now learning how to use a compass.

Christopher: Well, if you look at the map, we should be goin' straight for a long time.

Fritz: Okay.

Davidson: It says turn, right?

Angela: You can't go that way.

Let's try and take this path.

Christopher: I feel a bit overwhelmed.

I noticed that we were getting off course.

Angela: This is so frustrating.

Christopher: It is a lot more difficult than I thought it would be.

- I'm not feeling comfortable with this compass.

Boy 4: I'm a little frustrated right here because we do not know where we're going.

- When I think I'm goin' in the right direction because of the bushes and stuff, it takes me off course, then I gotta try and figure out how to get back on course.

So that's the... Christopher: Wait, can I see those numbers?

Angela: Mm-hm.

Christopher: It looks like that way, but I don't wanna assume that.

Angela: I say.

- Well, that's where it's pointed.

Fritz: [sighs] Angela: Fritz' relationship with Chris is a little sketchy because Chris shuts down and Fritz tend to keep goin', and then Chris get a little more annoyed.

Christopher: I don't think that's the right direction.

Angela: And they'll never wanna compromise or hear each other out.

Christopher: No, I think we gotta start going this way.

Angela: Neither one of 'em can communicate with each other.

Aidan: I have sand in my shoes.

Colin: The squabbling amongst the Raymonds have allowed the Trops to take a three-minute lead as they edge closer to the coast.

Man 2: There's one of those hornets, careful.

Josh: Tarantula hawk wasps.

Those are all over the place here.

Harmony: My back's killing me.

Josh: That doesn't mean slow down, that means keep the pace.

Keep walkin'.

Harmony: No!

Josh: Honestly, it isn't that hard.

We were really, like, slowing down and stuff.

I'm getting a little angry.

Harmony: Can we take a water break?

Just take a sip?

Josh: I don't think we're gaining any time on the Orange Team, and we keep stopping.

Harmony: I don't care!

Josh: Harmony is just refusing to go faster.

Harmony: Where are we going?

Man 2: I think that's the dunes right there.

Josh: It looks like there's a quicker way right here.

Harmony: Something tells me you're wrong.

Josh: I'm not really happy right now.

I think we should go up those.

Sarah: Hold on.

I think we oughta continue this way just a little bit longer.

Josh: I'm still planning on going up over that.

Harmony: I feel like he just wants to, like, go off and do his own thing sometimes.

Josh: All right.

I'm climbing up them.

Harmony: Sometimes, we get left out, like, just me and my parents just, like, stand there and just wait for him to come back 'cause he wants to go explore something new.

Josh: One sec, it goes higher up.

Sarah: I feel like we should go that way.

You wanna call him back down?

Man 2: We'll let him take a peek.

Harmony: I feel like he needs to just stick with us and not go venture off himself.

Man 2: Anything, Josh?

Sarah: Do you see the flag?

- No, but I see water.

Sarah: Okay.

Can you meet us up on the hillcrest over here?

- Yeah, yeah, yeah.

Harmony: Slippery.

Sarah: It feels steeper because it's sand, I think.

It's like we're walking on quicksand, it feels like.

Josh: Wonder how the other family's doing.

Sarah: Probably at the end for the night, settin' up camp.

Man 2: Yep.

♪♪ Angela: I'm good, babe.

Fritz: No, you're not, no, you're not.

Angela: I'm good!

Fritz: Get up, get up, you're not.

Get up.

Angela: When I got to the sand dune, I started crawlin' up it.

The sand is hot on my hands.

I'm thinkin', I'm not gonna make it.

Christopher: Get up!

Fritz: Come on, babe.

Angela: Come on.

I can't walk it up.

Davidson: Get up, they're gonna hold your hands!

Angela: [grunts] Fritz: You know, I see my wife, and then, when you're gonna shut down on us, this is not a place to shut down.

Angela: Ugh.

Aidan: I'm already-- Angela: It's harder for me to get up-- Aidan: I'll carry the bag.

Angela: I was doin' better this way.

Colin: As temperatures top 90 degrees, climbing the steep, scorching sand dunes can feel like an insurmountable obstacle, especially when carrying backpacks weighing upwards of 30 pounds and being blasted by wind and sand.

Aidan: [grunts] Fritz: Come on, Aidan.

Come this way, babe.

That way.

Angela: You okay, babe?

Fritz: Mm-hm.

Christopher: You all right, Aidan?

Aidan: No.

Christopher: Use your toes.

Davidson: My hat came off.

Aidan: [panting] Angela: You guys all did good.

Aidan, you did good, babe.

Aidan: Ugh, sand in my eye!

Christopher: All y'all ready?

Davidson: Yes.

Angela: I'm comin'.

Davidson, you okay?

Davidson: Mm-hm.

Aidan: I see water.

Angela: But it's beautiful, y'all, you see it?

Davidson: Yeah.

[wave roars] ♪♪ Colin: The Raymond family has made it over the sand dunes to the beach, but the Trops made it first, and are a quarter mile ahead as they both begin their final stretch before reaching camp for the night.

Harmony: Oh, yes.

The ocean, my best friend.

Sarah: You do love the ocean.

I come up over this dune with the whole family, and then we see this beautiful beach up ahead.

I was like, okay, I can take this.

The cool breeze, the beautiful aqua ocean.

Those mountains.

Ugh!

Can't take it.

They're beautiful.

Josh: What are you lookin' at?

Sarah: I looked behind me and saw a team coming.

The other team's behind us!

This is where we make up time.

Of course, we have to hurry.

If I could see them, they're too close.

Aidan: I think I see people right here.

Angela: Uh, uh-huh, you talkin' about right here?

Aidan: It's the other team.

Angela: Can we pick it up a little?

♪♪ Harmony: It's okay.

They're still behind us.

Sarah: I'm just really out of breath.

I might die.

But that's okay.

Oh, I see the blue flag!

Josh: Oh, I do too.

Sarah: You see it?

Josh: I see it.

C'mon, guys!

Harmony: It's right up here.

Man 2: Made it, finally.

Harmony: "Congratulations, Trop family.

You have survived Day one."

- Okay.

Sarah: Woo hoo!

Woo!

Woo, woo!

Christopher: Compass ain't even a problem anymore.

Angela: Heh, heh, heh.

It's your legs now, right?

Christopher: Yes, yes.

Aidan: Mom!

Angela: Yeah?

Aidan: Flag!

Angela: Yeah, glad we made it!

Christopher: Now we can finally sleep.

Colin: The families made it through their torturous first day with the Trop family leading by five minutes.

Man 2: There we go.

Josh: We might actually get to eat tonight, guys!

[tapping] Man 2: It was a hot, long walk.

Sarah: Do you feel like there were moments when you were like, Oh my gosh, why aren't people doing the way I think we oughta do it?

- [sighs] I mean, the one time with the compass, I thought I knew it.

Uh, I didn't.

- Sometimes, we separated, and... - Like the dune situation?

Harmony: Yes.

We were just, like, hiking, and then you went off on your own adventure and, like, did your own thing.

Sarah: Tomorrow, we focus on making sure everybody agrees if you're gonna head off, kinda thing.

Josh: Okay.

Harmony: And making sure everyone's included.

Josh: Right.

Thanks for the feedback, I'll try to work on that next time.

Sarah: Tomorrow?

Josh: Tomorrow, yeah.

Sarah: And if we do that as a family, that'll be easier than just tryin' to do it on your own.

Josh: Yeah.

Man 2: True.

♪♪ [fire crackling] Angela: We had a lot of challenges today.

Christopher: You know, there was a lotta pain that we had to go through in order to make it to this last point that we're at now.

There's a lotta struggles that we had.

Angela: So how do you think the rest of, uh, tomorrow is gonna go?

Davidson: I think it's gonna be a little bit more easier.

Angela: You think with all the problems we have right now, it'll be easier?

Davidson: Mm-hm.

Angela: Tell me how.

♪♪ Christopher: Uh, I slept good.

How 'bout you?

Christopher: Mom, how'd you sleep?

Angela: That was good, but it was hard.

Aidan: I slept good.

Angela: This is our time to spend with our family.

I'm glad Fritz is recognizing it's time to enjoy our kids and our family.

♪♪ Josh: Here, um, do you want me to grab the, um... Sarah: Here you go.

Colin: Trop family!

Sarah: Oh, hello!

Man 2: Hi, Colin.

Colin: Sarah, how was the day yesterday?

Sarah: Good.

We had compass navigation problems, but once we figured that out.

- Who was the master of the compass?

Sarah: John and Josh were workin' together mostly on that.

Colin: Okay.

How, how was your dad doin', Josh, on that?

- Uh, he was doin' great.

Better than me, better than I expected.

Colin: [laughs] Josh, you mind if we have a quick one-on-one conversation?

Josh: Sure.

Colin: All right, let's go this way.

Sounds like little bit of compass issues on, on Day 1, but you guys figured it out.

Josh: Yeah.

I didn't do as well as I hoped.

- You talked a little bit yesterday at the start line about kind of this perfectionism that you have.

Facing difficult challenges, sounds like sometimes, you get frustrated.

You know, in many of my big expeditions around the world, I always hope they go well, but, inevitably, something goes wrong.

You know, I've had a lotta successes, but those successes have actually been built on the back of failures.

- Well, failing is definitely something that I'm not usually pleased with.

I'm definitely gonna have to work on not getting angry because we're supposed to be working together.

I'm not supposed to be getting mad at everybody.

- I always like to say failure plus perseverance equals success, which means that it's just an opportunity to learn something, you know?

- Yeah.

Colin: Let's head down to the beach for this big adventure, all right?

This is Day 2, and the families are in for a surprise.

Once they pack up their camps, they'll be leaving dry land and headed straight into the Sea of Cortez, where they'll be challenged to go diving with whale sharks.

Once they complete that, it's back to land, and they'll have to hike five miles through the dry sand, sharp rocks, and the hot desert sun to reach their camp for the night.

Christopher: When Colin said we're swimming with whale sharks, my mind is going bonkers.

I'm thinking about how dangerous this is going to actually be.

Colin: Every wilderness expedition requires navigating difficult environments and facing the wildlife that we share with them.

Baja is home to the largest shark in the world: the whale shark.

These creatures can grow to lengths upwards of 25 feet.

Each family must work up the courage to get in the water and swim alongside them.

The trip will only last for one hour, so if anyone fails to do so within that time limit, their family will have to serve a 30-minute time penalty.

Josh: Don't swallow the water if it gets in your mouth.

Sarah: I asked Josh if there was anything he wouldn't wanna do, and he was like, I will not swim with sharks.

Nothing is worth that much money, and... John's afraid of swimming in deep water, so the two of them are not huge fans of this idea.

John: I have a tremendous fear of water.

I really don't know if I'm gonna be able to do it.

I don't know if I'm gonna hold my family back.

Colin: As John is wrestling with his nerves, a giant, gray shadow approaches their boat: a 23-foot whale shark.

Harmony: Do you see it?

Josh: Oh, yeah.

Harmony: That's awesome!

Man 3: Okay, go ahead, guys.

John: No.

This scares me.

I can't just jump into deep water like that.

This scares me to death.

Sarah: I look up, and John's still on the boat, and I'm like, what the heck?

John: I'm sittin' there, now by myself, and I am terrified.

There was just a part of me, [emotional] I felt like I let them down a little bit.

Supposed to be the brave dad, you know?

Sarah: [sighs] Josh: So I'm a little disappointed right now; he didn't jump in.

Sarah: Why didn't you jump in?

John: I was too scared.

Colin: With over half of the allotted time already gone, if John can't face his fears and swim with a whale shark, the Trop family will face a 30-minute time penalty.

Meanwhile, the Raymonds appear unified and ready to face this challenge as a family.

[heartening piano music] Davidson: We're getting ready to jump.

Man 4: Three, two, one, go.

[splash] Fritz: Easy, easy.

Aidan: [laughs] That's so neat.

Fritz: [cheers] Christopher: We had a great experience when we were down there holding each other's hands, and I was even more excited when I got to see how happy my dad was to see the shark.

Angela: He was big, though!

Christopher: You know, this is something that I hope we could do again together.

'Cause that was just awesome.

Davidson: Ah!

Woo!

Colin: Failing to get into the water on the first pass and with only ten minutes left, John has one more chance to dive in before time runs out on this challenge, costing his family 30 minutes.

Sarah: Yesterday, we were ahead, but if John can't do this, the competition may be lost for us.

John: It's important to me they see that they have a dad that tries to set an example for them.

Now it's just taking the courage to jump off the side of the boat.

[dramatic pulse] Harmony: You guys ready for this?

[apprehensive music] ♪♪ [splash] John: Woo!

Harmony: Ah!

Josh: There we go.

That's the dad I know.

Sarah: Woo hoo!

John: Any time I'm scared of something, I always try and do it anyway.

Josh: Dad really inspired me 'cause it showed me that I can face not only, like, my fears and problems head on, but also my emotions.

Sarah: Woo hoo!

Woo!

Josh: Wasn't expecting you to jump in like that.

John: It's overcoming fear.

Colin: Both families completed the challenge, and so neither one will be penalized.

For the next leg of the journey, the families will have to make their way from the beach five miles inland in the midday sun.

Sarah: Sounds good, let's get it.

Let's go.

Colin: The Trops finished yesterday five minutes ahead of the Raymonds and will have a five-minute head start today.

[ominous whistle tone] Josh: Every plant that I've run into has hurt me so far.

John: How you guys doin'?

Harmony: Not amazing at all, thank you very much.

Sarah: It's just really hot.

John: Yeah, I agree.

You're doin' good, Harmony.

Harmony: [whispered] Ow.

Colin: As the Trops contend with the painful desert vegetation, a quarter-mile behind them, the Raymonds are trudging onwards.

Aidan: We gotta pick up the pace a little bit.

Angela: We're doin' the best we can, baby, 'cause my knee is killin' me.

Christopher: From the cool ocean to a hot desert with nothing but cacti in the beating sun, I'm exhausted, but I feel like I gotta push through to make sure my parents are doin' okay.

Aidan: Watch your step.

Angela: I already have a bad knee.

Go ahead, babe.

Christopher: No, you can go first.

Angela: Uh, okay-- Agh!

Ugh.

Fritz: Ah, shoot.

Angela: Go, be careful, babe, okay.

Let me go 'cause I gotta fix my leg.

Ugh.

Aidan: Go ahead.

Fritz: Hey, give me your hand.

Angela: Yeah.

All right.

Christopher: On Day 1, I had talked about how confident I was about winning, but then I realized that you can't win without winning your family first.

Me and you are gonna have to work together when it comes to Mom goin' down hills.

- We may be behind now, but it's not over yet.

We're gonna keep trying.

Colin: Succumbing to the difficult terrain, the Raymonds have fallen to nine minutes behind, while a half-mile ahead of them, the Trop are facing the hottest portion of the day.

♪♪ [bird calling rhythmically] John: That's a scary-looking big cactus, huh?

Harmony: Oh my goodness, can we take a five-minute break?

I'm really, really, really hot, and I think I'm overheating.

Josh: We are getting closer and closer with every step to the flag.

Harmony: I can't breathe.

[panting softly] Sarah: 'Kay, why don't we go to that rock up there and then sit down again, okay?

Here, sit right here.

Here.

Harmony: Okay.

Sarah: Well, did the water help?

Do you feel less, like, hot?

Do you think you could carry her bag a little bit?

- Um... Sarah: Or maybe we could all take turns?

Josh: Inside, I'm like, you are slowing us down, and you could not be slowing us down, but you are anyway.

John: You think you're ready?

Sarah: Okay, we'll carry your bag for a little bit?

- Okay.

Josh: Wonder how Orange Team is doin' right now.

Colin: The Trops' break has allowed the Raymonds to make up ground, and now, they're only five minutes behind.

Angela: Ooo!

Woo, woo, woo.

Oh, shucks.

Fritz: I'm worried about your leg, babe.

Angela: My knee is fine.

It may be slowin' me down.

My knee's not broken.

They just hurtin'.

No pain, no gain.

- Yeah, but all that pain's probably gonna hurt you more than you think.

- Well, it will, probably, when I get back to... get back home.

Christopher: All right, let's move.

Let's move.

Davidson: Let him get it.

Fritz: Let's go, let's go.

[buzzing] Josh: Oh, I think I see a blue flag off in the distance.

I see it.

Sarah: Do you?

Harmony: Where?

Josh: Yeah.

Let's go.

Harmony: Almost there, guys.

John: Whew, I'm 'bout spent.

Josh: Today, it was a little annoying 'cause we were really, like, stopping and slowing down.

I'm not really happy right now.

Harmony: Almost there, it's right there.

Sarah: Go for it, Josh.

Last push to the end!

Josh: But I am trying to keep that from, like, coming out and lashing out on everybody.

"Congratulations, Trop family.

"You survived Day 2.

"Go to sleep early and depart before dawn.

"You'll want to complete your next trek ahead of the midday sun."

John: Why don't we go set up camp?

Oh, we're done.

Sarah: Good, great job, everybody.

Josh: Congrats.

Day 2 survived.

John: Nice.

Angela: Oh, there's the flag!

Good job, Aidan!

Good job, Davidson!

You guys did a wonderful job.

- "Congratulations, Raymond family."

- Woo!

Davidson: Nice.

Fritz: We make it up tomorrow, okay, babe?

Colin: After an action-packed day for both families, the Trops expanded their lead over the Raymonds to six minutes.

Both teams will need to rest up.

Their most difficult challenge awaits tomorrow morning.

John: You guys wanna help me start a fire?

Josh: Sure.

John: When I was Josh's age, I was very similar, and I was very particular about things.

You know, so I, I see a lot of myself in him.

The difference is, I didn't have a dad around.

And, uh, so I'm trying to teach him to tone it down.

Right here, 'cause your sparks are gonna fly over it.

Josh: Sorry, I can't light it.

John: That's all right.

So, you're gonna get a lot of these shavings off of there.

Josh: That's what I was trying to do, and it wasn't working too great for me.

John: That's all right.

You'll get a little stronger as you get older.

Josh: Well, look who lit it.

Congratulations, you accomplished what I could not.

John: That's all right.

Now you saw it, and you learn it.

But I can catch him early and, and teach him those things now so he doesn't have to go through the same struggles I went through.

Harmony: Good job, guys.

John: There you go.

Nice job.

Josh: To know that my dad actually cares and is trying to set a good example, if my dad weren't here, I think my struggle with my emotions would be a lot greater because I would have to handle everything myself and try to figure it all out, which, at some times, I'm not really the best at doing.

Ow!

♪♪ Christopher: I noticed your leg was hurting, and, you know, you helped us along the way.

You supported us, you carried us on your shoulders when we needed you the most, and I think that it's time we did the same for you.

- Have a good relationship with Chris.

I can tell when things are botherin' him.

Christopher: Make a promise for me.

When you feel the pain settling in and you feel like you can't go much longer, you have to promise me that you gotta stop.

Angela: You got that promise.

Christopher would love to have a father-son relationship with Fritz where they can communicate like we have.

Christopher: I love you.

[grunts] I have gotten used to going to my mom for advice.

As a young man, I should be able to go to my father more.

I think that it has to start with me making the first move rather than waiting for it to happen.

[wind whistling] [crickets chirping] [animal howls] Angela: Come on, you guys.

[howling continues] All right, let's go.

Grab a bag, Aidan.

♪♪ Sarah: Here we go, let's do it.

John: Let's get this hike started.

Harmony: "Today offers new heights for you to reach "and new challenges for you to scale in order to make it back to camp."

Colin: This is Day 3, and the families will be facing their most daunting challenge yet.

Their route will take them on a loop, starting with a punishing 1,000-foot ascent all the way to the mountain ridge line before descending into the valley and then making a second, even steeper climb, and, finally, making the dangerous descent through the loose rock fields back to their camp for the night.

Sarah: I'm not sure we're gonna be as fast as we were like yesterday.

Josh: We shouldn't be too slower, considering we're not carrying as much.

Harmony: Yeah, and we've gained some strength from the last two hikes.

♪♪ Colin: The Raymonds, still behind, are setting out six minutes after the Trops.

Christopher: How's your knee feeling, Mom?

Angela: As you've noticed, I still have a good pace, so it's not stoppin' me.

Davidson: Huh?

Aidan: We're climbing up that hill.

Davidson: That's a big hill.

- That's that Blue Team, right?

Yeah.

Christopher: Well, let's do it.

Slow and steady, just like yesterday.

Aidan: Okay.

Christopher: It's gonna work.

John: Gonna feel this in the morning.

Sarah: Yeah.

Josh: Come on, guys.

Sarah: We have to get all the way up there?

John: Yeah.

Sarah: [sighs] John: You're doin' good.

Sarah: I-I just feel like it's way too high.

How am I supposed to keep going?

There's always gonna be something that pushes you outside of what you wanna do, and, today, I feel like that, this is my day for that.

Harmony: You feel really tired?

Sarah: [panting] John: You need a minute?

Sarah: Sometimes, I think, with Josh having kind of a perfectionist mindset.

If he can't do it easily, he doesn't do it.

- No matter where we go, it's all gonna be the same steepness now.

Sarah: It takes a lot of falling down and, and getting back up, he kinda is like, nah, I'm not gonna do that.

Harmony: If you need it, you can take it, it's fine.

Sarah: I'm gonna keep going until I absolutely have to stop.

I don't want him to see that in me.

Josh: Oh, I see Orange Team.

Sarah: Really?

♪♪ Aidan: Look at the other family!

Davidson: I know, I see 'em.

Colin: Thanks to a steady pace, the Raymonds have nearly caught up to the Trops as the families make their way up separate paths towards the ridge line.

As the paths diverge, the families lose sight of one another.

Fritz: All right, all right, all right.

Davidson: My legs are killing me.

Angela: Total opposite.

Colin: But knowing that they're close, each family must give it their all, fighting up slopes so steep, they can feel nearly vertical.

Josh: If you guys need any help, just put your hand on the rock wall.

Keep you balanced.

Sarah: [groan of exertion] Colin: ...trying to keep balanced and gain ground as loose rocks constantly threaten their footing.

Fritz: This is a scary part.

Be careful.

Harmony: I'm sorry, Dad!

That was close.

Sarah: Slippery.

Colin: Both the Trops and the Raymonds are digging deep to overcome pain and exhaustion and make it to the top of the ridge line.

But it's the Raymonds who make it there first.

Josh: Guys, I see Orange Team.

Harmony: Oh boy.

Josh: I was surprised.

I thought we had a lead on the Orange Team.

Colin: With the Raymonds ahead by mere feet, the families reach the first summit and now must carefully make their way across the narrow ridgeline.

With sheer drop-offs of hundreds of feet in each direction, the families have to be extra vigilant... Harmony: Go backwards?

John: Yep.

Colin: ...for loose rocks and sand that could send them plummeting.

Josh: Harmony's struggling, Mom is struggling.

John: Cross over to that rock.

Harmony: Can't.

Josh: We are stopping pretty often.

It's just, like, we're so close and still behind them.

Sarah: I know, I know.

Josh: So it's, uh, gettin' on my nerves.

And I'm thinkin' to myself, Okay, guys, we gotta push a little harder.

Okay, see if we can pick this pace up a bit.

Harmony: Josh, it's hard to pick up the pace.

Josh: So, I'm seeing the Orange Team getting farther and farther from us.

I am a little bit angry.

Yeah, this is a big struggle on the inside.

John: I don't know where they went now.

Colin: The Trops' slow pace has allowed the Raymonds to open up a six-minute lead as they pick their way over rocks and sand in the desert valley.

Angela: Last climb, you guys, last climb.

Let's pushin' on.

I know we're tired, I know we're hurting.

Christopher: You need a rest?

- It's all painful, but we're doing it as a family.

That's what matters.

Christopher: All right?

Christopher: All right.

♪♪ Angela: Oh.

[panting] Fritz: [groans] Mm-mmm.

Mm-mmm.

Mm-mmm.

Mm-mmm.

- You feel it hurts?

Christopher: Which leg is it, Dad?

Right here?

Christopher: Right here?

Fritz: Yep.

Mmm.

Christopher: My dad is struggling right now.

I'm looking at my dad, and I'm hoping he can make it to the top of this mountain.

Colin: Fritz's injury forces the Raymonds to come to a complete stop, creating a major opportunity for the Trop family, who have regained the lead by two minutes.

Sarah: I wanna stop a second.

[pants] I'm exhausted; I can't breathe.

I don't feel good at all.

John: Like you're gonna, like, sick, or you knee's just really bad?

Sarah: My knee hurts, and I feel nauseous.

It was definitely a mental nightmare for me.

I'm just so tired.

Josh: I do have some.

Sarah: Okay.

You should drink a little of this.

Josh: Yeah, I'm planning on it.

I am trying a different approach right now.

I am not yelling at my family.

I'm trying not to lash out on them and get mad at them.

Do you want more?

Sarah: I do, but I'll wait.

Josh: I'm just getting rid of the angry feeling and trying to calm myself down by thinking, There's nothing they can do about this.

Harmony, I know this is tough for you.

Just keep pushin' through.

You got this.

And I hope it's been helpful to them, so let's just keep going, and hopefully, we can make it to the end.

Colin: The Trops are ascending a 600-foot slope at an almost 45-degree angle.

Loose rock, deep sand, and the blistering midday sun with no shade in sight make this climb excruciatingly slow and exhausting.

♪♪ John: It's the last push.

Josh: Come on, guys, you got this!

You're almost there!

♪♪ 'Kay, Mom.

Congratulations, you've reached the top.

Sarah: Doing something so hard but also being able to look and see it, what we've accomplished with my family in such a tangible way, it was priceless.

It was worth the competition right there.

It's beautiful up here, and the wind feels great.

Soak it up.

John: That's a gorgeous view that.

[wind rushing] Man 5: You do... Medic: He's gonna collapse.

Colin: In extreme environments like this, even a minor injury can be catastrophic, so the safety team has stepped in to tend to Fritz.

Angela: If you don't think you can handle it, I think we can go without you.

Christopher: This is a family thing-- Angela: It is a family thing.

Christopher: We can't just go without him.

It just doesn't feel right to do it without Dad.

Man 5: All right, so here's the thing.

Your family's gonna start to push on.

What do you wanna do?

Medic: You think you're good?

Medic: Okay.

Colin: Fritz has decided to gut it out and finish the day with his family, but the stoppage has allowed the Trop family to build their lead up to eight minutes.

Josh: Oh, what are those things, turkeys?

John: Vultures.

Harmony: Vultures.

Josh: Oh, those are vultures?

John: Yeah.

Josh: Huh.

John: What are they congregating for?

Josh: So, you see those idiots back there?

When they get here, they will be dead.

John: I think Josh is doing a great job coping through this.

Josh: They look better out in the wild than they do in the zoo.

John: Normally, he would express a lot more frustration and lack of understanding.

There it is.

There's the flag.

Come on, we gotta hurry.

Harmony: No, I'm not hurrying.

Josh: 'Kay.

We're almost there, Harmony, don't worry.

John: He's showed a lot more maturity and, uh, growth, stepping in and, you know, helping his mom or Harmony.

Sarah: [sighs] At last.

Harmony: "Congratulations on making it "to your third and final camp.

"Please approach tonight with intention and address your fears and concerns as a family."

- All right, good job!

John: Nice, all right.

Good job today, everybody.

Sarah: To be honest, I really did think I wouldn't be able to finish.

But, that's what life is about.

You can push yourself to do more than you think you can.

John: All right.

Let's go to camp.

Harmony: Yep.

Sarah: To camp.

[flag snapping] Colin: The Raymonds are finally back on the trail, determined to fight through the pain in order to finish the day as a family.

Christopher: Seeing my dad fight the pain, it was tough to watch.

Doing great, Dad, keep it up!

Davidson: Keep on going!

Angela: Good job, baby, we're proud of you!

Christopher: I knew he would get back up because that's what he does.

He is a fighter, and he will always get up.

Aidan: Come on, guys, you can do it!

Christopher: And he passed that on to me in so many ways.

Angela: Come on, you can keep goin'.

Davidson: We're almost there.

Aidan: So close.

Angela: Uh.

Aidan: Good job, Mom!

- This is where we are.

You did good, babe.

You did good, and I'm proud of you.

This is so nice.

Fritz: This is beyond beauty, babe.

Angela: No, this is beauty.

Fritz: Woo!

Angela: We're still walking!

♪♪ [hawk screeches] Angela: Woo!

There's the flag, you guys!

Christopher: Let's go!

Angela: We made it.

Fritz: Woo!

Christopher: "Congratulations on making it "to your third and final camp.

"Please approach tonight with intention and address your fears and concerns as a family."

All right!

Fritz: Yes!

Angela: All right, all right.

Colin: Both families have fought through injuries and treacherous conditions today but have found themselves closer for it.

The Raymonds are now trailing by nine minutes as they all settle in for their last night.

John: You know, I've gotta say I've been proud of you guys this week, doin' those hard things and, uh, and how well, Josh and Harmony, how you've, uh, just been getting along well, helping each other.

Sarah: I also was really impressed because I know, no matter who you work with, family or not, um, when you're exhausted and in pain, it's easy to lose your cool, and then Josh, you were patient 'cause I know you could move ahead a lot faster than we are, and you were helpin' Harmony up and helpin' me up and down.

Josh: I know that being more patient has been a thing I struggled with, and when you guys did take your time and were slow, I got a little angry.

But then I pushed that feeling away, and I was like, that's not what we're supposed to be doing here.

That's not good for the rest of the group, and that's not what I should be doing.

Sarah: That's really good.

John: We're a family, and we're always here for each other.

Love you guys.

Harmony: Love you, too.

Josh: Love you, too.

[tent flapping in wind] ♪♪ Christopher: Hey, Dad.

Fritz: Hey, Chris.

Christopher: How you feeling right now?

Fritz: I'm so tired.

Christopher: Yeah?

Fritz: Yeah.

Christopher: I'm proud that you didn't quit.

I'm happy that you knew that your body wasn't working, and then you took the help when you needed it.

You didn't push anybody away-- Fritz: Mm-hm.

- And we communicated a lot.

We connected more.

Fritz: [laughs] - And we connected like we did before.

Fritz: Everything's gonna be changing from now on.

You hear me?

- Yes.

Fritz: I've been, you know, working too much overtime and stuff, so I wanna see if I can cut that back so we can have more time together.

- Okay.

Fritz: Let's try to live as a family.

Okay, babe?

Fritz: Okay.

Fritz: All right.

Christopher: Love you.

Fritz: I love you, too.

[happy groan] ♪♪ [insects buzzing] [dog howls] [insects buzzing] [hawk screeches] [insects buzzing] Sarah: You know what Grammy texted me before we left?

Harmony: What?

- "It's gonna be really hard, but make sure you have fun while you do it," so... I think that's gotta be our thought for today.

Josh: I'll definitely take this experience with me when I go back.

From here on out, I intend to face my problems head on, and even if they are difficult, I will keep pushing.

John: Just push through and go as fast as we can.

Sarah: And then if it seems like we're slowin' down, Dad and Josh can carry us.

John: Yeah, piggy-back rides.

Josh: That would just slow us even more.

Sarah: One last day.

We can do it.

John: Yep.

Josh: Let's go, let's do this.

John: Yeah, I think this is gonna be a good day.

Angela: Hey.

We're down to the home stretch, you guys.

Christopher: Is Dad's sleeping bag at the bottom of his bag?

Angela: Yes.

Christopher: Do you wanna take it out and put it on mine?

That way it's less weight on him.

Angela: I love the way my family's coming together to communicate, to bond, and to make the family unit work.

- Last night, my dad and I, we bonded a lot, and it's heartwarming to see that he's actually trying to be a better person than he was before.

- If I was at home, I wouldn't be able to communicate with my dad like I did out here.

Out here, it changed a lot about my perspective of how I see him, and to see this for the first time, it's, it's a great thing to see.

Christopher: Amen.

Fritz: Amen.

Christopher: All right, we're ready for this.

Josh: All right.

"One last push to the finish line "will see one of you claim the prize, "but remember, "there's more at stake in this race than simply finishing first."

Colin: It's Day 4.

The families will each navigate four miles up steep terrain and around a mountain ridgeline before racing the final two miles through a rocky riverbed on the way to the finish line.

♪♪ John: Do you wanna head up here?

Sarah: If that's the way we gotta go, sure.

John: Everybody's motivated, but we're also, we're tired and hurtin'.

All right, this is where we start going up.

Sarah: Yeah.

Josh: Come on, guys, we're doing great.

John: But this is Day 4, so we gotta make it happen today.

Sarah: [sighs] This is gonna hurt.

Harmony: Yeah, you're already bleeding pretty bad on that leg.

Sarah: Yep, I know.

That's okay.

I expect some blood to-- Josh: Right here is basically like a stairway.

John: Good call, Josh.

Christopher: It seems like we have to go that way.

Angela: All right.

Fritz: Okay, let's go!

Angela: Let's go, let's go, let's go.

Christopher: Last push, last push.

Christopher: All right, so let's follow Dad.

My nerves are pretty high right now.

We are very tired.

Doin' good so far?

Angela: Once this leg loosen up, I'll be able to walk a little faster.

Christopher: All right, so right now, it's a bit stiff still.

The last hike.

We got this, we got this.

Dad, you're doing great!

Angela: You are doing good, babe.

Christopher: As long as we work together, we should be fine.

We gotta keep that good energy.

Colin: The Raymonds begin their slow ascent up the dusty, sun-baked mountain.

Each step is a fight against loose rocks and painful thorns, and while it's only 9:00 a.m., the temperatures are already pushing 95 degrees.

♪♪ Christopher: We're doing great, y'all, we're doing great.

Angela: Yeah.

Christopher: Keep it up.

Angela: Okay.

Let me try crawlin' up.

Good, I'm gonna crawl up like this, and I know we goin' upward.

I'm feeling very exhausted from this hike.

Christopher: You know, I like walkin' through the desert.

Angela: Do you?

Christopher: Yes.

Angela: Eh, well, I'm not gonna agree with you on that.

Christopher: Heh.

Christopher: My mom and my dad have been going through a lot of pain.

They've been holding it in, and they've been able to fight through it, but this pain isn't gonna go away.

He said his leg's not working?

Angela: No.

Christopher: You wanna take the bag off?

Fritz: [sighs] Angela: You can't do it, babe?

Colin: With Fritz again suffering from injuries, the Raymonds are at an impasse, but on the other side of the ridge line, the Trops are pushing forward, thanks to Josh's encouragement.

Josh: We've already made it so far.

Come on, guys, let's keep this up.

Doing really good.

John: It's not all about winning and losing, but I feel like we've got a lotta wins so far.

Just seein' the, the growth in Josh.

Josh: Up here, it starts to get a little steeper.

Sarah: No.

Josh: What?

Sarah: More up?

It's just, well, not easy going straight up.

It's just, it's hard.

Josh: My parents have been an inspiration to me.

John: All right, this is where we wanna make up some ground.

Josh: Yeah.

Try to pick up speed.

- Showing me that I can push through the toughest times and, um, come out with the best results.

Come on, we're so close.

♪♪ Christopher: Do you think it would be a good idea if I take his bag?

Angela: Whatever we need to do.

Let's take it off.

Christopher: All right.

Let's take this off.

Fritz: No.

Angela: Babe, don't.

We, we're wasting time.

Let us carry the bag so you can just concentrate on your feet and back.

Fritz: [sighs] Christopher: Well, let's keep going.

Angela: I feel our family works together well, and if someone needs support and help, we're always there for each other.

Christopher: You got this, Dad.

You can keep goin'.

Christopher: Thank you.

Christopher: Love you, too.

Christopher: Yep.

He told me that he loved me, and it really, it really, it really hit a spot in my heart.

I loved hearing him say that, and the fact that he was able to say it in a moment of need, it was great.

Angela: We came in together, we're finishing together.

Colin: The Raymonds are on the move again, and thanks to Chris's help, are now in sight of the Trop family.

Harmony: Keep pushing on, guys.

We're almost there.

Colin: Both families have crested the ridge, and now it'll be an all-out race two miles to the finish.

Harmony: Come on, you can do it!

John: My wife is in a lotta pain, my daughter was in a lotta pain.

Harmony: It's been hard for me, too, but I've been pushin'.

John: You know, it's that final push.

Josh: We're so close.

This is literally the last stretch.

- I'm feeling exhausted.

Josh: Come on.

Harmony: It's really close.

Josh: We're so close, Mom.

Don't give up now.

Come on, we're so close.

Sarah: I'm just in pain.

The whole family is here going, nope, you are pushing to the end.

We can see it; we're going.

Josh: She's hurting, and there's nothing we can really do about it.

But I understand.

I-I know this is hard for Mom, so w-we can take our time.

John: Do you need to rest?

Sarah: I do not feel good at all.

I really don't think I can do it.

Colin: The Trops are in the lead less than a mile from the finish line, but with Sarah's energy flagging, the Raymonds, who are only minutes behind them in the same dry riverbed, have a chance to regain the lead.

Christopher: Think we can stek it-- step it up a bit?

As a team, my family is working pretty good.

We're helping each other out.

I still feel pretty confident that we can win this one.

Angela: Mmm.

Aidan: That's that Blue Team.

Fritz: Blue Team.

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

Harmony: That's the Orange Team, Josh!

Sarah: We looked back, and we saw the Orange Team-- John: Come on!

Sarah: --which gave me all the motivation I needed to give it all I had.

We can do it, I think.

Josh: Let's do this, guys.

Harmony: [sighs] Fritz: Come on, let's go!

Christopher: Home stretch, guys, home stretch!

Angela: [sighs] John: You're doin' good.

Sarah: Fast as you can.

John: It's right here.

Josh: There it is.

It's right there.

Harmony: Oh!

Christopher: I think I see it.

- You can kinda make them out right over that ridge there.

Christopher: Come on, y'all got this!

Angela: I'm comin', baby, I'm comin'.

Josh: Guys, I think I see Colin.

- It looks like it's the Trop family.

John: There it is.

- Almost there, guys!

Looks like Dad carrying both packs, three water bottles.

Congratulations, Trop family!

You are at the finish line!

Trops: [cheer] Colin: You are the first family to get here, so if you can raise this flag, you will be the winner of Survivalists.

Christopher: I think I see it.

John: Harmony, you put this one on.

Josh: Here we go.

John: Josh, you can clip this one?

Sarah: For me, I really thought I could not do some of the things that we did this week.

Harmony: Okay, let's go!

Colin: Raise it up!

Sarah: And we pushed as a family.

When we worked together, I, we did it.

Colin: Trop family, you are the winner of Survivalists!

Harmony: Woo!

Colin: Congratulations!

John: Nice job!

Love you guys.

Josh: Love you, too.

Sarah: I can't believe we did it.

Harmony: We did it!

- Sarah, you look exhausted.

How'd you find the strength out there to keep going?

- I just literally had to keep looking down and going, one step, one step.

I also just wanna make sure I show the kids that they can do hard things if you set your mind to it.

One, one step at a time.

Colin: Do you feel like you guys came away with all the goals you were hoping to achieve out here?

Sarah: I really did.

Josh was really patient.

All through the hike, he had to wait for us 'cause we, we were much slower, and he didn't lose his cool, and he was, used encouraging words, and he really has shown maturity and, and growth in that area.

- I have accomplished a big part in overcoming my perfectionism.

It's helped me take care of the emotions that I have.

I can handle them, I can deal with them, I can use them the right way.

Seeing my mom pushing through the mountain, seeing my dad jumping into the water, and facing his fears, seeing my sister try to build a better relationship with me.

I will not say it is perfect 'cause n-nothing is perfect, but, it's been really helpful and inspiring.

I want you to know I'm proud of you, I'm proud of you for pushing through; I know it was tough for you.

You were a great member of the team.

- Oh, thank you.

Colin: Harmony, how does it feel to hear that from your brother?

Harmony: It feels, like, really nice, 'cause, usually, we always fight, and it's so happy to hear him say that.

I do believe that me and my brother will have a better relationship.

We did so many things together.

It was really hard, but he helped me through it.

Colin: What I'm seeing arms around each other, sharin' emotional conversations, trust, love, that's really what's this is all about.

So, congratulations, Trop family, you won Survivalists.

I'm so incredibly proud of you.

Sarah: Thank you so much.

John: Thank you.

Colin: Good job.

Josh: Great job, everyone.

♪♪ Davidson: I see a blue flag over there.

Christopher: Don't worry about it.

Christopher: The blue flag is already up and waving.

Colin: Come on, you guys, you're almost there!

Good job!

All the way to the finish line!

- I feel kind of disappointed inside, but we're finishing the race.

Colin: Father and son, holdin' hands.

I love that.

Colin: Raymond family, congratulations.

You've finished Survivalists.

Good job, you guys.

Angela: You guys, y'all did a wonderful job.

Fritz: Yeah.

Christopher: So did you.

Angela: I'm so proud of you.

We just finished the hardest thing that our family ever done together, and it's not just about Chris and Fritz, it's about the whole family.

Colin: Fritz, you set the intention of wanting to come closer to your kids, particularly to Chris, and I see you guys walkin' up here hand in hand with each other.

Talk to me about that.

- Yes.

Colin: I love that.

I love that.

Chris, how's it feel to hear that from your father?

- I feel astounded.

We did a lotta connecting in the past days, and I'm happy that when I go home, we can continue what we started out here.

I love you a lot.

I'm proud that you, you evolved from the way you used to be, and it's great to see you do that.

It's great to see how much power you have inside of you, and I'm proud of you.

Fritz: Congratulations.

John: Nice job.

Davidson: Congratulations.

Christopher: Congratulations.