Extreme physical effort, especially when coupled with risk and deprivation, has been known to produce strong effects in people. These range from "runner's high" or being "in the zone" to far more mystical experiences: visions, hallucinations, and superhuman performance.

Bone Games is the story of Rob Schultheis' exploration of this strange terrain - the altered states of consciousness that can be an elusive product of extreme sports. He finds the paranormal in rock climbing, mountaineering, ultrarunning, kayaking, climbing and hang gliding. He finds the spiritual in accounts of Arctic explorers and shipwreck victims. And he finds deep parallels in shamanistic practices and Zen Buddhism.