CrossClimb #900: The One-Letter Ladder

How to Read the Ladder

CrossClimb #900 is built on a strict rule: every neighboring word changes exactly one letter. The clue answers create the middle of the climb, while the compound prompt supplies the two end words.

Start with the given clue answers and check each transition mechanically:

GONG → GONE → CONE → CONK → COOK

Step-by-Step Swaps

1. GONG to GONE

GONG fits the clue for a percussion instrument resembling a very large cymbal. The next clue, “Missing,” gives GONE. The fourth letter changes from G to E.

2. GONE to CONE

GONE means missing. The ice cream clue points to CONE, an alternative to a cup. The first letter changes from G to C.

3. CONE to CONK

CONE answers the ice cream clue. “___ out” means to break down or fall asleep, giving CONK. The fourth letter changes from E to K.

4. CONK to COOK

CONK completes the phrase “conk out.” The apron clue leads to COOK. The third letter changes from N to O.

Solving the Compound Prompt

The final prompt asks for a compound word describing a volume that holds lots of lyrics. The natural phrase is songbook, which splits into the pair SONG and BOOK.

That pair also locks cleanly onto the ladder. From SONG to GONG, only the first letter changes from S to G. From COOK to BOOK, only the first letter changes from C to B.

Final Check

The completed climb is:

SONG → GONG → GONE → CONE → CONK → COOK → BOOK

Every adjacent pair differs by one letter, and the two end words combine into the compound answer requested by the final clue. The key aha moment is recognizing that the compound is not separate from the ladder: it provides both missing rungs and verifies the entire structure.