Brick Man's N.H. Trip A Celebration; Cause Of Death Remains Unknown

CONWAY, NH — A Brick Township man who died while hiking in New Hampshire was celebrating his improving health in a battle against cancer on that trip, according to a report.

NJ.com reported Greg Auriemma, 63, of Brick, was diagnosed with cancer two years ago, quoting New Jersey Sierra Club director Jeff Tittel, who said Auriemma had gotten good news in his fight against the disease.

But what happened to Auriemma, an attorney in private practice and longtime chair of the Ocean County group of the New Jersey Sierra Club, remains unclear. His body was found July 20 in Crawford Notch in the White Mountain National Forest, where he had been hiking after he was last seen June 24.

But according to a report by Philly.com, the New Hampshire medical examiner said determining his cause of death is not possible because his body was too decomposed.

Jennie Duval, New Hampshire’s deputy chief medical examiner, told the website that she didn't see trauma but couldn't rule it out, and she could not say whether he had died of hypothermia.

Auriemma went missing after he headed off on a planned 10-day, 30-mile hike in the White Mountains, where he had hiked a number of times. An experienced hiker, he was traveling alone and did not take his cell phone with him.

His body was found by another hiker on July 20 after an intense search. Funeral arrangements have not been announced.

Photo provided by New Hampshire Fish and Game