BOX ELDER COUNTY - A family of five that went missing during a camping trip was found safe late Wednesday morning, authorities said.
Search and rescue crews located the Cowsert family in Perry Canyon in Box Elder County about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday.
The family left for a camping trip near Perry Reservoir Monday night. Relatives said they were supposed to pick up the couple and their three children in Perry Canyon Tuesday afternoon, but they never showed.
Crews began searching for them about 7:30 Tuesday night. They say the terrain is rugged and steep, and they could only get there by foot.
Sgt. Steve Berry, Box Elder County Sheriff's Office, said the father suffered from dehydration, but the family was otherwise OK.
"All's well that ends well," he said. "Everyone checked out good. They rehydrated them, and everybody's gone home now, reunited with the family."
Nathan Cowsert, one of the rescued family members, said he was glad the ordeal was over.
"We were getting eaten by flies, and we were worried," he said. "We heard a voice, and then we started yelling, and then they yelled back at us and we started screaming and jumping up and down."
Meanwhile, a fire is burning on Willard Bay Peak, about 10 miles from where the family was camping. At first crews thought the family may have started the fire to send out a smoke signal, but sheriffs confirm it was not started by them. The fire remains under investigation.
