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Authorities searching for an Albuquerque teen missing from his college in Middlebury, Vt., are probing building-high snow mounds there while reaching out to people in Albuquerque who might have heard from him.

Nicholas Garza, 19, an Albuquerque Academy class of 2007 graduate now in his freshman year at Middlebury College, was last seen at 11:30 p.m. last Tuesday in another dormitory on campus about 1/3 mile from his own dorm. Most of the campus was vacant because of a schoolwide winter break.

After 9 inches of snow fell Wednesday morning and Garza failed to show up in his dorm, a friend alerted school safety officials, but also told them that he suspected Garza had gone away with another friend, college spokeswoman Blair Klomen said.

Garza's mother contacted school authorities Saturday, Klomen said. On their advice, she officially reported her son missing Sunday, the last day before the end of the vacation break, Klomen said.

Middlebury police searched the campus Monday, with the help of the town's volunteer fire department. Officers interviewed students and others who might have seen Garza.

This morning Vermont State Police and state game and fish officers broadened the search, said Middlebury Police Department spokesman Tom Scanlon.

"It's one of those where you have very little to go on," Scanlon said. "We're not looking at foul play; it's just where is he?"

Scanlon said several snowstorms hit Middlebury's estimated 8,000 residents, about a quarter of whom are college students, since Garza was seen last week.

"Plows have plowed. We have piles as tall as buildings," Scanlon said.

Garza did not take his iPod, laptop computer or coat with him, and is not answering his cell phone, Scanlon said.

The college is sending regular e-mail alerts to students and faculty about the investigation and requesting anyone with information to contact Middlebury police, Klomen said.

Students and faculty at Albuquerque Academy also received electronic notice of Garza's case, said Head of School Andrew Watson.

"We really valued Nicholas as a member of our community," Watson said, noting that Garza was active in the speech and debate team.

Watson said alerts also were sent to all of Garza's graduating classmates in case they've heard from him.