LinkedIn CrossClimb #870
Reveal the ladder one rung at a time
1Start here+
HARD is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two words that complete the idiom “a ___ and ___ rule” meaning something that is fixed and cannot easily be changed. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint.
Opening endpoint2Reveal rung 2+
HERD is the answer to “Group of cattle”.
HARD → HERD changes position 2 from A to E.3Reveal rung 3+
HEAD is the answer to ““Hit the nail on the ___””.
HERD → HEAD changes position 3 from R to A.4Reveal rung 4+
HEAT is the answer to “Make warm”.
HEAD → HEAT changes position 4 from D to T.5Reveal rung 5+
FEAT is the answer to “Impressive achievement requiring a fair amount of skill”.
HEAT → FEAT changes position 1 from H to F.6Reveal rung 6+
FEST is the answer to “Gathering or celebration (often used as a suffix, as after Oktober)”.
FEAT → FEST changes position 3 from A to S.7Final rung+
FAST is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two words that complete the idiom “a ___ and ___ rule” meaning something that is fixed and cannot easily be changed. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint.
FEST → FAST changes position 2 from E to A.Reveal the complete answer and endpoint connection
HARD + FAST
Puzzle data read from the official public LinkedIn CrossClimb game through an anonymous visitor session, then validated for one-letter transitions. No account data is used or stored.
The structural clue
How the ladder gives itself away
HARD → HERD starts the chain with a change in position 2. From there, the changed positions run 2, 3, 4, 1, 3, 2, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.
- StepSolve the middle clues, then anchor HERD beside HARD because they differ at exactly one position.
- StepContinue through HERD → HEAD → HEAT → FEAT → FEST, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
- StepPlace FAST at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect HARD with FAST.
Every rung explained
HARD is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two words that complete the idiom “a ___ and ___ rule” meaning something that is fixed and cannot easily be changed. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint.
Opening endpointHERD is the answer to “Group of cattle”.
HARD → HERD changes position 2 from A to E.HEAD is the answer to ““Hit the nail on the ___””.
HERD → HEAD changes position 3 from R to A.HEAT is the answer to “Make warm”.
HEAD → HEAT changes position 4 from D to T.FEAT is the answer to “Impressive achievement requiring a fair amount of skill”.
HEAT → FEAT changes position 1 from H to F.FEST is the answer to “Gathering or celebration (often used as a suffix, as after Oktober)”.
FEAT → FEST changes position 3 from A to S.FAST is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two words that complete the idiom “a ___ and ___ rule” meaning something that is fixed and cannot easily be changed. Keep in mind: The first word may be at the bottom.” and serves as an endpoint.
FEST → FAST changes position 2 from E to A.What this edition teaches
This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 2, 3, 4, 1, 3, 2. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.
Endpoint result: HARD + FAST.
Continue without losing the plot
Nearby editions: #871 WESTWIND · #869 ZOOMCHAT