This selfie captures a near-death experience and later trauma-teaser

Mountaineer Cory Richards came close to death in an avalanche, but it was what happened afterwards that almost destroyed him. Richards is a mountaineer and National Geographic photographer. The 37-year-old American has climbed mountains all over the world from South America all the way to the Himalayas. Mountain climbing is exhilarating and fun. However, it can also be dangerous. Even the most experienced climbers can't avoid the perils of the mountain forever. Richards was 29 when fellow mountaineers Simone Moro and Denis Urubko invited him on an expedition to climb Gasherbrum II, also known as K4.