sure. reporter: it was not an easy mission for guard pilot david speck and co-pilot todd adams. at dawn they located a landing area next to a still-swollen creek near the scouts and set down. minutes later the 13 and 14-year-olds walked a short distance and boarded the helicopter. finishing a 26-mile journey that started last thursday and was stopped by bad weather. it was an exciting ride to safety for a group that insists it was never in danger. we had the ability to create fresh water. we had food. we had shelter. we had everything we needed, so it was just a matter of waiting mother nature out. she came out a little early and put us a little late. it s really beautiful, actually. seeing the hills and the mountains like it is, it is really cool. you can t really see that in louisiana. reporter: ian says he and his fellow scouts had their survival skills tested while waiting family members endured tests of patience and faith. last night, i was very anxious. we kind of figur
near a mountain they could climb. the flood waters quickly rose. it was not far from here last summer that flash floods killed 20 campers but those scouts knew where to go in case conditions changed. we don t mind being cold, we don t mind being wet. we don t want to be cold and wet, so that was probably our biggest challenge. we had the ability to create fresh water. we had food. we had shelter. we had everything we needed. so it s just a matter of waiting mother nature out. she came in a little early, and put us a little late. reporter: an arkansas national guard helicopter crew spotted them in the darkness monday night. went to the area that they thought that campers were, we flew a ridge line, the campers stuck to the edge of the river with their flashlights and started flashing their lights. reporter: so at daybreak tuesday, the pilot knew right where to fly after a challenging landing in the thick forest, the campers were ready to get out. the real sigh of relief comes