CrossClimb #899: The One-Letter Clue Climb
Related Puzzle
CrossClimb #899
LinkedIn CrossClimb #899 for October 16, 2026 full solution with hints, top and bottom answers. Hints: A tree may grow from it, Give a supply of nutrients, Charges for professional services, Opposing forces, Weather patterns that may be described as "pea soup", A two-word phrase for animals that may work in snowy conditions.
The Ladder at a Glance
CrossClimb #899 rewards disciplined letter tracking. Each clue produces a four-letter word, and every neighboring pair must differ by exactly one letter.
SEED → FEED → FEES → FOES → FOGS
The locked endpoints then complete the chain and answer the compound clue about animals that may work in snowy conditions.
Solving the Clues
Clue 1: A tree may grow from it
The answer is SEED. It is the natural starting point: a tree can grow from a seed.
Clue 2: Give a supply of nutrients
The answer is FEED. To feed something is to give it nourishment. The move from SEED to FEED swaps the first letter, changing S to F.
Clue 3: Charges for professional services
The answer is FEES. Professional charges are fees. From FEED to FEES, the fourth letter changes from D to S.
Clue 4: Opposing forces
The answer is FOES. Foes are opponents or opposing forces. From FEES to FOES, the second letter changes from E to O.
Clue 5: Weather patterns that may be described as “pea soup”
The answer is FOGS. “Pea soup” describes dense fog. From FOES to FOGS, the third letter changes from E to G.
The Endpoint Aha!
Once the five clue answers are aligned, the remaining endpoint words must each differ from their neighboring rung by one letter. The upper endpoint is SLED: compared with SEED, only the third letter changes from E to L.
The lower endpoint is DOGS: compared with FOGS, only the first letter changes from F to D.
SLED → SEED → FEED → FEES → FOES → FOGS → DOGS
How the Final Answer Fits
The compound clue asks for a two-word phrase describing animals that may work in snowy conditions. Reading the endpoints together gives SLED DOGS.
The phrase also validates the entire structure: SLED connects cleanly to SEED, while DOGS connects cleanly to FOGS. The clue answers, letter swaps, and compound phrase all reinforce one another.
Strategy Takeaway
Start with the most direct definitions, then compare words position by position. Do not settle for words that merely share three letters; a legal CrossClimb move changes exactly one letter in the same four-letter frame. Here, the clean sequence of swaps exposes the route and makes the endpoint phrase inevitable.