Rung #59: DADDY to LANES — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 12, 2026: DADDY to LANES, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 6: the shortest climb there is takes 4 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from DADDY to LANES. The shortest climb through the whole accepted dictionary, counting the leap — two letters changed in one move, once, at the cost of two rungs — is 4 rungs; par is 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 5 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, the only one that short: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. DADDY → DANDY — the third letter, D becomes N.
2. DANDY → LANDS — the leap: D becomes L and Y becomes S, two letters in one move for two rungs.
3. LANDS → LANES — the fourth letter, D becomes E.

The answer

DADDY · DANDY · LANDS · LANES — 4 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #58 (Sun, Oct 11)

About Rung

Rung is Noggin’s daily word ladder: five 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, and a hint when you are stuck. How to play Rung, or play today’s.