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Answer guide · CrossClimb #903 · Tuesday, October 20, 2026

HACK to LEAK: CrossClimb #903

CrossClimb #903 runs from HACK to LEAK through 7 officially verified rungs. The middle route is HARK → HARD → HERD → HEAD → LEAD, with every neighboring word changing exactly one letter.

Official puzzle data · automated checks: Complete clues and one-letter transitions checked automatically · Source for official game mechanics: LinkedIn Help. This site is not affiliated with LinkedIn or Microsoft.

LinkedIn CrossClimb #903

Reveal the ladder one rung at a time

1Start here
HACK

HACK is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two ways data might become public when it shouldn't be.” and serves as an endpoint.

Opening endpoint
2Reveal rung 2
HARK

HARK is the answer to “"___! The Herald Angels Sing"”.

HACK → HARK changes position 3 from C to R.
3Reveal rung 3
HARD

HARD is the answer to “Difficult”.

HARK → HARD changes position 4 from K to D.
4Reveal rung 4
HERD

HERD is the answer to “Collective noun for bison or elephants”.

HARD → HERD changes position 2 from A to E.
5Reveal rung 5
HEAD

HEAD is the answer to “Where a hat usually sits”.

HERD → HEAD changes position 3 from R to A.
6Reveal rung 6
LEAD

LEAD is the answer to “Be in the front of, as a race”.

HEAD → LEAD changes position 1 from H to L.
7Final rung
LEAK

LEAK is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two ways data might become public when it shouldn't be.” and serves as an endpoint.

LEAD → LEAK changes position 4 from D to K.
Reveal the complete answer and endpoint connection
HACK → HARK → HARD → HERD → HEAD → LEAD → LEAK

HACK + LEAK

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

HACK → HARK starts the chain with a change in position 3. From there, the changed positions run 3, 4, 2, 3, 1, 4, which is a quick way to verify the order without relying on meaning alone.

  1. StepSolve the middle clues, then anchor HARK beside HACK because they differ at exactly one position.
  2. StepContinue through HARK → HARD → HERD → HEAD → LEAD, checking spelling position by position rather than grouping words by topic.
  3. StepPlace LEAK at the other endpoint and use the shared endpoint clue to connect HACK with LEAK.

Every rung explained

1HACK

HACK is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two ways data might become public when it shouldn't be.” and serves as an endpoint.

Opening endpoint
2HARK

HARK is the answer to “"___! The Herald Angels Sing"”.

HACK → HARK changes position 3 from C to R.
3HARD

HARD is the answer to “Difficult”.

HARK → HARD changes position 4 from K to D.
4HERD

HERD is the answer to “Collective noun for bison or elephants”.

HARD → HERD changes position 2 from A to E.
5HEAD

HEAD is the answer to “Where a hat usually sits”.

HERD → HEAD changes position 3 from R to A.
6LEAD

LEAD is the answer to “Be in the front of, as a race”.

HEAD → LEAD changes position 1 from H to L.
7LEAK

LEAK is the answer to “The top + bottom rows = Two ways data might become public when it shouldn't be.” and serves as an endpoint.

LEAD → LEAK changes position 4 from D to K.

What this edition teaches

This edition rewards positional checking: its 6 legal moves change letter positions 3, 4, 2, 3, 1, 4. When the clue meanings wander, the one-letter rule keeps the ladder from wandering with them.

Endpoint result: HACK + LEAK.

Continue without losing the plot

Check your own word ladderTest one-letter changes and find the transition that breaks your sequenceLearn the solving methodUse clue meanings and letter changes togetherPractise another ladderTry an original practice puzzle before revealing its solutionLatest published CrossClimb answerUse the progressive reveal board for the latest published editionAll recent answersReturn to the selective CrossClimb archive

Nearby editions: #902 DICECUBE · #901 CRIESTEARS