Amazing Race update – Mountain men and Swiss misses

Ten teams started out from Switzerland and headed to Munich, Germany. Everybody is going to the airport at three in the morning, and the smart teams borrow a cell phone from the cab driver to figure out flights. Only Team Mighty Mites and Team Drinkcart are on the flight that leaves an hour after the other teams so they're in the hole.

Once in Germany, teams go up a cable car and it's the Roadblock: one team member must paraglide off the mountain to land in a field below. If wind conditions are too dangerous, teams may either wait or take an hour-long hike down. Tammy & Victor arrive first but the wind is high and they won't let her go; she decides to hike down the mountain. Eventually there are five teams waiting but, one by one, they decide to take the trail instead of waiting for the wind to die down. Mel of Mel & Mike tries to wait because he strained a muscle in the last leg and doesn't think he can make the hike.

Back from commercial, the wind suddenly stops and Mel floats down the mountain. Meanwhile, the other teams are reaching the bottom and they drive themselves to some chateau for the next clue. Once there, it's the Detour: Balancing Dolly or Austrian Folly. Teams may either take a Segway over an obstacle course or throw pies at each other until they find one with a cherry filling. Team Esquire throws pies and make their frosting-covered way to the Pit Stop at Schloss Hellbrunn.

Meanwhile, back at the mountain, Linda of Team Appalachia fails to follow the arrows on the pathway and comes down far away from where she's supposed to be. After some whimpering, she hitches a ride to the correct parking lot. I'm pretty sure this is not allowed on the Race so, even if they make it to the Pit Stop, they're going to be penalized. Team Sistahs get lost driving to the Detour.

It's getting dark in Germany and they note "14 hours after the start of the Race." One of those minor little tasks the teams need to do after the Detour but before the Pit Stop is to find a woodcutter who will make a little disk that is stamped with the name of the final destination. Team Drinkcart can't seem to figure out where the woodcutter is, so they pick up a piece of lumber outside a barn. Eventually, they find the right guy. The last four teams are having a terrible time navigating the roads in the dark. In the end, Team Appalachia can't make up their earlier misstep and they are eliminated from the Race.

Team standings:

#1 – Team Esquire - Tammy & Victor
#2 – Team White Guys - Mel & Mike
#3 – Team America - Amanda & Kris
#4 – Team Say What? - Margie & Luke
#5 – Team Something - Brad & Victoria
#6 – Team Ginger - Jaime & Cara
#7 – Team Sistahs - Kisha & Jen
#8 – Team Mighty Mites - Mark & Michael
#9 – Team Drinkcart - Christie & Jodi
#10 – Team Appalachia - Steve & Linda – PHILIMINATED

Next week – Romanian gymnastics.