Good News From Texas

SHARLEEN SPITERI was free-climbing in the Cuillin Hills on the Isle of Skye a year ago, when she made two uncharacteristic blunders. Firstly, she fell behind her companions. Secondly, she made a near fatal error of judgement. "I was a bit slow getting to the ledge, and because I'm quite small, my body-weight swung me right round... I was hanging in midair. If I'd gone then I would have been dead. The others had to come back to get me. I couldn't walk. My legs had buckled and turned to jelly. It was the weirdest feeling I've ever had.