CrossClimb #896: Five Clues, One Sharp Ladder
Related Puzzle
CrossClimb #896
LinkedIn CrossClimb #896 for October 13, 2026 full solution with hints, top and bottom answers. Hints: Repair, as a hole in a garment, Keep in ___ (take into account), Herb name that often follows “pepper” or “spear”, Fine spray of water, Opposite of least, Two verbs meaning to drop in the mail.
The Ladder at a Glance
CrossClimb #896 rewards careful ordering rather than guesswork. Each five-letter answer changes exactly one letter from the word before it:
SEND → MEND → MIND → MINT → MIST → MOST → POST
The five middle clues supply the ladder’s internal rungs. The opening and closing words come from the compound clue at the end.
Solving the Five Clues
Clue 1: Repair, as a hole in a garment
The answer is MEND. It means to repair or patch something damaged.
Clue 2: Keep in ___ (take into account)
The phrase is MIND, as in “keep in mind.” The first aha moment appears here: MEND and MIND differ only in the third letter, changing E to I.
Clue 3: Herb name that often follows “pepper” or “spear”
The answer is MINT. “Peppermint” and “spearmint” make the clue precise. From MIND to MINT, the fourth letter changes D to T.
Clue 4: Fine spray of water
The answer is MIST. The ladder now shifts from MINT by changing the third letter, N to S.
Clue 5: Opposite of least
The answer is MOST. This final supplied rung follows MIST with one change: the second letter switches I to O.
Finding the Correct Direction
The clue answers naturally form this chain:
MEND → MIND → MINT → MIST → MOST
Reading the transformations in reverse reveals the upper endpoint’s shape, while the compound clue identifies both endpoints. The key tactical move is to test likely mail-related verbs against the exposed ladder words.
The Final Compound Clue
The final clue asks for two verbs meaning to drop in the mail. The two answers are SEND and POST.
Each connects cleanly to the existing ladder. At the beginning, SEND becomes MEND by swapping the first letter, S to M. At the other end, MOST becomes POST by swapping the first letter, M to P.
That completes the full route:
SEND → MEND → MIND → MINT → MIST → MOST → POST
Why the Finish Works
The final clue is elegant because both answers share the same meaning while anchoring opposite ends of the ladder. Once SEND and POST are placed, every transition obeys the one-letter rule:
SEND → MEND: first letter, S to MMEND → MIND: third letter, E to IMIND → MINT: fourth letter, D to TMINT → MIST: third letter, N to SMIST → MOST: second letter, I to OMOST → POST: first letter, M to P
The decisive insight is to separate clue solving from ladder placement. Once the five definitions are answered, compare letter patterns, then use the final compound clue to lock in the two endpoints. That turns a loose group of words into a precise, fully validated climb.