LinkedIn CrossClimb #597 — Step-by-step solution and walkthrough

Game: LinkedIn CrossClimb — question_id: 597 — published date: December 18, 2025 — CrossClimb solution walkthrough.

This post explains how to solve today’s LinkedIn CrossClimb puzzle step by step. The goal is to turn the top word into the bottom word by changing exactly one letter per step while matching each clue. Below you’ll find the reasoning for each line, how the words connect in a one-letter ladder, and how the compound clue leads to the final answer.

Quick answers (ladder order)

• MAIL
• MAID
• SAID
• SKID
• SKIN

How the ladder fits the clues — step-by-step reasoning

Start by solving each clue independently, then reorder them so each word differs by one letter from the previous. That single-letter-change rule is the backbone of CrossClimb.

Hint 1: "Letters and packages" → MAIL

“Letters and packages” is a concise definition of MAIL. It’s the natural 4-letter noun that covers both mailed envelopes and parcels, so this is the best match for the first clue.

Hint 2: "___ Marian, heroine in the Robin Hood legend in English folklore" → MAID

The blank in the phrase is commonly filled by MAID (as in Maid Marian). MAID is also a one-letter change from MAIL (change L → D), which lets it follow MAIL in the ladder: MAIL → MAID.

Hint 3: '"As I've ___ before ..."' → SAID

The idiomatic completion is “As I’ve said before…”. SAID differs from MAID by a single first-letter change (M → S), so the ladder continues: MAIL → MAID → SAID.

Hint 4: "Lose traction, as on an icy road" → SKID

“Lose traction” is commonly described as to SKID. SKID is a one-letter change from SAID (S A I D → S K I D, change A → K), keeping the one-letter rule intact: MAIL → MAID → SAID → SKID.

Hint 5: "Outer covering" → SKIN

“Outer covering” fits SKIN. SKIN differs from SKID by a single-letter change (D → N), completing the ladder: MAIL → MAID → SAID → SKID → SKIN.

Compound question: "Compound word meaning to go out of control, like a spiraling, plunging airplane." — TAIL / SPIN

The game unlocks a compound top/bottom combo clue once the ladder is correct. The target phrase describes a dramatic out-of-control airplane maneuver: tailspin, a compound of TAIL (top answer) and SPIN (bottom answer). The two unlocked words are the final components forming the compound word that matches the clue.

Why this solution is clean and reliable

• Each word matches its clue with the most common, natural answer: MAIL, MAID, SAID, SKID, SKIN.
• Every adjacent pair differs by exactly one letter, satisfying the CrossClimb ladder rule.
• The compound final is an obvious single-word phrase (tailspin) that directly answers the combined clue about going out of control.

Tips for solving similar CrossClimb puzzles

• Solve clues first: Get one-word candidates for every line before worrying about order.
• Look for small edits: Ladders usually change vowels or a single consonant; test candidates that vary by one letter.
• Work from ends: If top/bottom are unlocked, use them to anchor the ladder and fit intermediate words between them.
• Prefer common words: The puzzles favor everyday vocabulary over obscure terms.

Examples in code (quick checker)

Use this simple snippet to verify a candidate ladder by checking one-letter differences between consecutive words:

def one_letter_diff(a, b):
    if len(a) != len(b):
        return False
    return sum(x!=y for x,y in zip(a,b)) == 1

ladder = ["MAIL","MAID","SAID","SKID","SKIN"]
valid = all(one_letter_diff(ladder[i], ladder[i+1]) for i in range(len(ladder)-1))
print("Valid ladder:", valid)

This prints Valid ladder: True for the correct solution above.

Happy puzzling — save or share this CrossClimb #597 walkthrough if it helped. Keywords: LinkedIn CrossClimb solution, word ladder, tailspin, daily puzzle, question_id 597, December 18 2025.