Ascent of Whodunit

Aaron and I had been wanting to climb this for a year, and we finally got to. It was a stellar route, and well worth the wait. We did it in six pitches with no simul-climbing, though the guidebook calls it seven or eight. It could be done in five by linking the first two pitches, although that may require a touch of simul-climbing. I led the first and third pitches (the two hardest) as well as the fifth... although after the third pitch, the belays are not obvious. Memorable experiences: the whole third pitch. Beautiful hand crack most of the way, followed by a short chimney (in which you can still just jam instead of chimneying or stemming), followed by some tricky, sketchy moves that protect perfectly. Also, *almost* scoring my first piece of booty, a tiny nut on the last pitch that was soooo close to coming out. And last, finally topping out right at the true summit of Tahquitz.