Slither Me Timbers (also known as Head Long Flight, Headlong Flight, Union of the Snake, and Slither Me) is a challenge that originated in Survivor: Millennials vs. Gen X. It was later used in Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, Island of the Idols, Survivor 44, and Survivor 47.
Rules[]
The castaways' feet are tied together and their arms are bound to their sides. One at a time they must slither through the sand through a series of obstacles before completing a final objective.
In Millennials vs. Gen X and Island of the Idols, the team had to complete a puzzle at the end of the course; this was also the format used in Survivor 44, where the challenge was played individually. In Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers the unbound tribe member had to shoot five balls into a receptacle.
History[]
United States[]
In Millennials vs. Gen X, David Wright drew the white rock and did not have to compete, automatically earning a spot on the reward. Although the team of Jay Starrett, Ken McNickle, and Will Wahl got off to an early lead, the team of Adam Klein, Hannah Shapiro, and Jessica Lewis and the team of Bret LaBelle, Sunday Burquest, and Zeke Smith both caught up at the puzzle portion, with Bret, Sunday, and Zeke finishing first, joining David on the reward.
The challenge returned in Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers, this time with the additional task of pushing balls with their heads. Levu got off to a strong start with Desi Williams, and continued on to Ashley Nolan and Joe Mena's laps. Soko and Yawa struggled, especially Yawa's Mike Zahalsky and Soko's Ryan Ulrich, who both had trouble getting over their hills. With Levu's lead, Devon Pinto managed to toss five balls into the receptacle, winning for his tribe. Cole Medders managed to finish his hoops before Soko even finished the slithering portion due to Ryan's struggle, also winning reward for Yawa.
The challenge was used as the first Reward Challenge immediately following the tribe switch in Island of the Idols. Three pairs were tethered together on each tribe and had to slither together to make it across the finish line. Then, the final untethered pair had to solve a fire-shaped puzzle. Vokai got off to an early lead after various members of Lairo struggled in the sand, allowing them to easily win reward.
The challenge reappeared in Survivor 44 as the final eight Immunity Challenge. Competing as individuals, the castaways first maneuvered a buoy to a mat, after which they would untangle the rope to which the buoy is tethered, creating enough slack for them to make it to their puzzle station, where they would solve the puzzle from Star Man. Danny Massa squandered the lead he gained from the slithering segment of the task, allowing Carson Garrett to solve the star puzzle first to win his first individual challenge.
The team format reappeared in Survivor 47 as the final nine Reward Challenge. After collecting three balls from the sand course, each team member had to land one ball in a receptacle at the end of a long table. The blue team of Kyle Ostwald, Rachel LaMont, and Sam Phalen won in a blowout and received a visit to the Survivor Sanctuary.
South Africa[]
In Philippines, the tribes competed in a Reward Challenge for various confections. Tribe members had to relay a bag containing a puzzle piece across three tribe members, and one member would solve the puzzle from Snake in the Grass at the end. Tom Swartz crafted a dominant lead for Visayas, while Annalize Sainsbury fell behind for Luzon. However, Katinka Oosthuizen managed to make up ground for Luzon, putting Mindanao on the backfoot heading into the puzzle. In the end, Vusi Mafulela finished the puzzle first, while Katinka finished second, leaving Mindanao empty-handed yet again.
Winners[]
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Millennials vs. Gen X "Million Dollar Gamble" |
Team Reward |    Bret, Sunday, Zeke |
| Heroes vs. Healers vs. Hustlers "The Past Will Eat You Alive" |
Tribal Reward |     Levu |
     Yawa | ||
| Island of the Idols "Don't Bite the Hand That Feeds You" |
Tribal Reward |         Vokai |
| Survivor 44 "Full Tilt Boogie" |
Individual Immunity |  Carson Garrett |
| Survivor 47 "Loyal to the Soil" |
Team Reward |    Kyle, Rachel, Sam |
| Episode | Challenge Type | Winners |
|---|---|---|
| Philippines Episode 8 |
Tribal Reward |     Visayas |
    Luzon (South Africa) |
Gallery[]
