CrossClimb #892: Five Clues, One Sharp Ladder
Related Puzzle
CrossClimb #892
LinkedIn CrossClimb #892 for October 9, 2026 full solution with hints, top and bottom answers. Hints: ___ and hearty (in good physical condition), Long-eared animal related to the rabbit, Challenge to do something risky, 10/10/26, for example, Lavish affection (on), A two-word phrase for something that lasts for two beats in a piece of music in 4/4 time.
CrossClimb #892 Solution
This ladder rewards precision. Each answer fits its clue, and every move changes exactly one letter while preserving the four-letter structure.
Climbing the Ladder
1. HALE
“___ and hearty” means HALE, describing someone in good physical condition. This is the starting rung.
2. HARE
A long-eared animal related to the rabbit is a HARE. To move from HALE to HARE, swap the third letter: L becomes R.
3. DARE
A challenge to do something risky is a DARE. From HARE, swap the first letter: H becomes D.
4. DATE
10/10/26 is a DATE. From DARE, swap the third letter: R becomes T.
5. DOTE
To lavish affection on someone is to DOTE. From DATE, swap the second letter: A becomes O.
The Final Aha!
The completed ladder is:
HALE → HARE → DARE → DATE → DOTE
Each adjacent pair differs by only one letter, so the wordplay and the clue meanings reinforce each other at every rung.
The compound clue asks for a two-word phrase describing something that lasts for two beats in a piece of music written in 4/4 time. The answer is HALF NOTE: a HALF note receives two beats in common time.
That final pair ties the puzzle together through the ladder’s endpoints and its musical definition. The first word, HALF, echoes the idea of a partial measure, while NOTE identifies the musical unit being counted. The solution emerges only after the clues are solved and the one-letter transitions are checked.
Final Ladder
HALE → HARE → DARE → DATE → DOTE
Compound answer: HALF NOTE