BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. -- Dozens of search and rescue volunteers spent the weekend searching the woods around the West Magnolia Trailhead, looking for a missing 19-year-old camper.

Boulder County Authorities said Justin Pleiss left his Arvada home on Oct. 24. He told his sister he was going to go camping for a couple of days.

“He just got a new camera from his dad a couple of weeks ago. He was really itching to get up here and take some photos,” said Justin’s mother, Amber Pleiss.

Pleiss describes her son as a free spirit, who loves the outdoors. She said it is not uncommon for him to go camping by himself, often hitch-hiking up to the mountains near Nederland.

However, she said it’s completely out of character for him to be gone this long, and for him not to have contacted any family members or friends.

“My concern is he was hurt somewhere. He was out taking photos and fell off a rock, or slid down something, and that he’s hurt and stuck and can’t get out,” she said.

On Saturday, searchers found items belonging to Justin at a campsite. Marci Linton, with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, said they found a tent, a pair of boot liners, a camera and some taekwondo belts. However, it wasn’t clear how long the items had been there.

“Those are small enough items where if he was leaving, he would have taken those items with him,” said Pleiss, “The only reason he would have left those behind was to lighten his load to go out and take photos. Scouts always know you take everything out that you bring in and you never leave anything behind.”

Even more concerning, Justin, a former boy-scout, wasn’t prepared for the late October snow storm.

“He considers himself a survivalist and he can get through anything. He does have some background and experience in it, but not enough to be surviving for weeks at a time with minimal supplies,” Pleiss said.

She said Justin was wearing a red and black flannel jacket, blue jeans, and skate shoes when he left home. He didn’t take his snow boots, and only carried enough supplies to fit in his backpack.

“So each day grows more concerning that he’s injured somewhere and we’re running out of time to find him,” said Pleiss.

About 60 volunteers from Rocky Mountain Search and Rescue, Front Range Rescue Dogs and Boulder County Mounted Horse Search and Rescue Team all took part in the search over the weekend.

It was not know when they left at dusk Sunday night, if they would be returning to search again Monday.

Justin Pleiss is 6 feet 2 inches tall. He weighs 150 pounds and has long blonde hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information regarding Pleiss' whereabouts is asked to call the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office at 303-441-4444.