FRIENDS FOUND
(01-23) 19:47 PST CLEAR LAKE, LAKE COUNTY --

A Fremont couple who hadn't been heard from since last weekend after leaving for a camping trip were found safe Saturday in rural Lake County .

A helicopter pilot hired by the family of Ryan Barrett saw the 31-year-old and his girlfriend Viola Liu, 31, walking near Elk Mountain Road north of Clear Lake around 3:30 p.m., said Barrett's aunt, Patricia Jennings.

The helicopter, with Barrett's uncle and cousin inside acting as spotters, evacuated them. They were headed home Saturday evening.

"They're fine," Jennings said. "They're tired and hungry and thirsty, but fine. And so are their dogs," she said, referring to the three dogs that accompanied the couple on their trip.

The couple left for Lake County on Jan. 16, intending to stay two nights. But Jennings said they got trapped when rain and snow hit the region and their two-wheel-drive vehicle couldn't traverse the streams they crossed on the way there.

The couple happened upon a cabin, where they stayed a couple of nights, Jennings said. They survived on the provisions they had brought, including freeze-dried food.

On Saturday morning they set out to try to hike to civilization and were spotted by the helicopter, Jennings said.