Rung #26: SURF to DROP — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 9, 2026: SURF to DROP, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from SURF to DROP. Par is the shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs, so it cannot be beaten. The leap does not shorten this one: 6 rungs is the shortest climb with or without it.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 12 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. SURF → SURE — the fourth letter, F becomes E.
2. SURE → DURE — the first letter, S becomes D.
3. DURE → DORE — the second letter, U becomes O.
4. DORE → DORP — the fourth letter, E becomes P.
5. DORP → DROP — the leap: O becomes R and R becomes O, two letters in one move for two rungs.

Other routes as short: SURF · SURE · SORE · DORE · DORP · DROP; SURF · CURF · CORF · COOF · COOP · CROP · DROP; SURF · CORF · COOF · COOP · CROP · DROP; and more.

The answer

SURF · SURE · DURE · DORE · DORP · DROP — 6 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #25 (Tue, Sep 8) · Next: Rung #27 (Thu, Sep 10)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: four letters, one changed at a time, par set by the shortest climb there is. Any real word is a rung; a two-letter leap is yours once a day. How to play Rung, or play today’s.