CrossClimb #901: A Five-Letter Clue Ladder

The Ladder at a Glance

CrossClimb #901 is built around five-letter words, with each rung changing exactly one letter. The clue answers form a tightly engineered chain:

CRIBS → CRABS → CRAMS → TRAMS → TEAMS

The final compound clue asks for a two-word phrase describing what someone sometimes does after receiving overwhelmingly good news. That clue supplies the top and bottom words of the complete ladder.

Step-by-Step Climb

1. Baby beds → CRIBS

The first clue points cleanly to CRIBS, the small beds used for babies. This establishes the starting point for the visible clue sequence.

2. Ten-legged creatures → CRABS

Change the third letter, I, to A:

CRIBS → CRABS

CRABS fits “ten-legged creatures.” The word remains recognizable because the first, second, fourth, and fifth letters stay fixed.

3. Studies hard right before a test → CRAMS

Now swap the fourth letter, B, for M:

CRABS → CRAMS

To CRAM means to study intensely at the last minute, so CRAMS matches the clue’s subject: someone who studies hard immediately before a test.

4. Streetcars → TRAMS

Change the first letter, C, to T:

CRAMS → TRAMS

TRAMS are streetcars. This is a sharp positional shift: the ending RAMS stays intact while the opening letter transforms the meaning.

5. Microsoft’s video messaging app, or groups of coworkers it might bring together → TEAMS

Swap the second letter, R, for E:

TRAMS → TEAMS

TEAMS satisfies both halves of the clue. Microsoft Teams is a video-calling and collaboration platform, while teams are groups of coworkers it may bring together.

The Aha! at the Ends

The final compound clue asks for “a two-word phrase for what a person sometimes does when receiving overwhelmingly good news.” The natural pair is CRIES and TEARS.

These words complete the ladder on opposite ends:

CRIES → CRIBS → CRABS → CRAMS → TRAMS → TEAMS → TEARS

The top word, CRIES, changes to CRIBS by swapping the third letter, I, for B. At the other end, TEAMS changes to TEARS by swapping the third letter, M, for R.

Together, CRIES and TEARS express the emotional reaction suggested by the compound clue: someone may cry tears of joy after overwhelmingly good news. The final pair also validates the entire route, because every adjacent word differs by exactly one letter.

Final Route

The completed CrossClimb #901 ladder is:

CRIES → CRIBS → CRABS → CRAMS → TRAMS → TEAMS → TEARS

The key solving tactic is to preserve every unchanged position and let each clue determine the single replacement. Once the middle rungs lock into place, the emotional compound clue reveals the two endpoints and closes the climb.