A climber and a visual storyteller, Cory Richards made history when he became the first American to climb a winter peak over 8,000 meters at the age of 29. Along with climbing partners Simone Moro and Denis Urubko, the small international team reached the summit of Gasherbrum II on February 2, 2011, an expedition that was documented in the acclaimed film Cold and which won Mountainfilm’s Charlie Fowler Award and the Grand Prize at the Banff Mountain Film Festival that same year. Richard’s photography has also included work in the fashion industry. He was a National Geographic Adventurer of the Year in 2011.