He's experienced in wilderness camping, but hasn't been seen for nearly a week. 24-year-old Blaze Starkey came to the Black Hills about three weeks ago to camp near the Black Elk Wilderness area East of Custer.

More than a dozen law enforcement, search and rescue and emergency management officials spent the day looking for Starkey. He spent the summer in the Southwest part of the United States wilderness camping, but officials aren't sure if he was prepared for the weekend cold snap. He hasn't called home for almost a week.

Starkey told family members that he'd been staying along a trail east of Custer, but after a day of searching, crews have found no trace of a campsite.

"We were concerned about him getting wet and hypothermic," Public Information Officer John Culberson said.

Public Information Officer John Culberson says while Starkey's been camping in rough terrain before, he may not have had the equipment needed to survive the weekend weather.

"Probably wasn't prepared for what Mother Nature threw at him Friday night, Saturday morning, and then all the snow on Sunday. It was -4 in Custer, -4 here," Culberson said.

Now, the skies are blue and the snow is melting, and he's still nowhere to be found.

Starkey doesn't carry a cell phone; in fact, the only way officials have to track him is through debit card purchases. His last transaction was almost a week ago.

"Bought some groceries, some Elk Hunters had brought him in from this area into Custer and from that point forward, we don't know where he's been," Culberson said.

While the situation looks grim, Culberson says those searching believe they'll find Starkey alive.

"I certainly do yet, I think so I think everybody's got that concept in their minds right now," Culberson said.

Culberson says this is simply a wellfare check; he doesn't believe Starkey is a harm to himself or others, it's just out of character that he hasn't called home.