Missing Raleigh Boy Scout Troop Located

Waynesville, N.C. — A group of Boy Scouts and their leaders from Raleigh were found Monday morning, about 14 hours after they were reported missing in the Pisgah National Forest near Waynesville, authorities said.

Eight boys and three adults from Troop 217 went to the park Friday for a weekend of camping and hiking and were expected home by 7 p.m. Sunday, according to Rachel Beach, mother of one of the scouts.

When the troop did not return, family members called the park service. Park rangers found the group's vehicles and launched a search party including dogs, Beach said.

A fresh rescue team of 15 to 30 people, including some tracking dogs, was sent after dawn into the woods of Haywood County.

Donna Johnston at the Occoneechee Council office in Raleigh, said the scouts had gotten off a trail and waited until daylight before resuming their hike. They were located about 9 a.m. after they followed the path of a power line and ran across a meter reader, she said.

"They're fine," Johnston said. "They're out of the woods."

"They behaved as scouts. They were prepared," Assistant Scoutmaster Rodney Jones said.

Scout leaders said the troop had plenty of supplies and was never in any real danger. They also had a cell phone, but couldn't get a signal in the forest.

"We had a great time. They had a great attitude. One of the boys said to me, this is a really great adventure but I'm getting tired,” scout leader Charlie Logan said.

John Ackerman of the Occoneechee Council said the boys' parents drove to Haywood County Monday morning to pick up their sons.

The troop is sponsored by the Crossroads Fellowship on East Millbrook Road.