To a trio of twenty-something adrenaline junkies, it sounded like an irresistible challenge -- tackle the Amazon with nothing more than a rubber raft between them and fate. But when Colin Angus, Ben Kozel, and Scott Borthwick embarked on their fantastic voyage in September 1999, just climbing to the river's source nearly killed them.

Beginning with the dehydration that nearly did the adventurers in as they hiked the Andes to the river's source, Amazon Extreme is a breathtaking account of the daily challenges, dangers, and triumphs experienced over the course of this five-month expedition. With no money to speak of and inaccurate, fifty-year-old maps to guide them, this intrepid trio manages to persevere through violent rapids, guerrilla gunfire, mosquito-infested drinking water, and numerous bouts of sickness.

But in spite of several near-death experiences, including one particularly terrifying moment when the raft is toppled into the raging white water, Angus's crew finds a reverence for the compelling beauty that makes this region so renowned. Amid the hardships are moments of pure pleasure, from graceful dolphins and lush forests to the intriguing, gracious people who've made their homes along the river.

A rollicking tale of courage and exploration, this is a story of three guys who truly went off the deep end, and one who came back to write a riveting recollection of it.