Rung #75: SHAFT to STORM — the solution

The Rung ladder from October 28, 2026: SHAFT to STORM, one letter at a time, every step a real word. Par is 7: the shortest climb there is takes 5 rungs, and par gives you 2 to spare.

The puzzle

Climb from SHAFT to STORM. 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 5 rungs; par is 2 more, so the shortest route comes in under it. Without the leap the shortest climb is 6 rungs; the leap saves 1.

The walkthrough

A climb under par, one of 7 shortest: at every step a single letter changes and every word on the way is one the game accepts.

1. SHAFT → START — the leap: H becomes T and F becomes R, two letters in one move for two rungs.
2. START → STARE — the fifth letter, T becomes E.
3. STARE → STORE — the third letter, A becomes O.
4. STORE → STORM — the fifth letter, E becomes M.

Other routes as short: SHAFT · SHIFT · SHIRT · SHORT · STORM; SHAFT · SHARE · SHORE · STORE · STORM; SHAFT · SHARE · STARE · STORE · STORM; and more.

The answer

SHAFT · START · STARE · STORE · STORM — 5 rungs, the leap landing on the word in italics.

Previous: Rung #74 (Tue, Oct 27) · Next: Rung #76 (Thu, Oct 29) · All Rung solutions

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.