Rung #39: DISH to SNOW — the solution

The Rung ladder from September 22, 2026: DISH to SNOW, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6, with one two-letter leap in hand.

The puzzle

Climb from DISH to SNOW. 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. Without the leap the shortest climb is 7 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb that makes par, one of 11 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. DISH → FISH — the first letter, D becomes F.
2. FISH → FIST — the fourth letter, H becomes T.
3. FIST → SIST — the first letter, F becomes S.
4. SIST → SNOT — the leap: I becomes N and S becomes O, two letters in one move for two rungs.
5. SNOT → SNOW — the fourth letter, T becomes W.

Other routes as short: DISH · DIOL · DHOL · DHOW · SHOW · SNOW; DISH · KISH · KIST · KNOT · KNOW · SNOW; DISH · KISH · KIST · KNOT · SNOT · SNOW; and more.

The answer

DISH · FISH · FIST · SIST · SNOT · SNOW — 6 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #38 (Mon, Sep 21)

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.