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John Hollenhorst reportingJOSH CHRISTENSEN/SCOUT: " LOT OF THORNY BUSHES, CUTTING MY FACE, SOME STINGING NETTLE, ALL KINDS OF CRAZY PLANTS SMACKING US IN THE FACE. "
Some Salt Lake Boy Scouts got in over their head... literally...in a jungle of underbrush on the Nevada border. But after two unscheduled nights in the wild, they're home safe tonight.
The scouts were on an expedition in the Deep Creek Mountains when they missed their rendouvous Friday. After some anxious hours yesterady, they were spotted by helicopeter.
And today, they walked out under their own power.
Four scouts and two adult leaders say they were surpriseed to see all the attention their little misdaventure drew, from rescuers, and the news media. They felt they were in little danger, although tough terrain definitely caused their plans and schedule to go seriously awry.
The setting for the expedition was Haystack Peak,in the rugged Deep Creek mountains in extreme western Utah, near the tiny town of Callao.
The group of six was supposed to hike out Friday. But in a small canyon, they ran into a very thick jungle-like environment they had trouble walking through. They eventually tired out from all the bush-whacking.
JOSH CHRISTENSEN/SCOUT: "WE GOT WE JUST DECIDED TO STAY THE NIGHT BECAUSE WE NEEDED THE REST. IT WAS NOT WHAT WE EXPECTED GOING DOWN THAT CANYON."
TOM TORONTO/SCOUT LEADER: "THEY HAD THREE DAYS WORTH OF FOOD STILL AND PLENTY OF WATER BECAUSE THEY WERE DOWN BY A CREEK WITH THEIR FILTER PUMPS."
But they were out of contact all day Saturday, so anxious relatives alerted authorities. A rescue effort was organized. They were spotted by helicopter and rescuers reached them late last night and helped them walk out safely this morning.
JOSH CHRISTENSEN/SCOUT: "JUST THERE FOR US. A COUPLE OF GUYS HELPED US CLEAR A PATH SO WE COULD GET OUT REAL EASY AND IT WAS REALLY NICE. I LOVED THE HELP WE GOT."
No worse for wear, Josh told us he was hoping for a shower, a nap..and a chance to get back to his video games. His Dad said the real lesson was to see the great lengths so many people went to to make sure the boys got out safely.
