Brain Game: A Flaky Puzzle

We got our first snow of the year last night; rather late for the season here in Michigan. To celebrate, here's a weather-related Brain Game. Enjoy!

By changing one letter at a time to form new words, and leaving all other letters in their original positions, convert the word RAIN into the word SNOW in seven (or fewer) steps. Good luck!

R A I N _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ S N O W

Here is one 7-step SOLUTION.

A SEVEN-STEP SOLUTION:

RAIN > LAIN > LOIN > LOON > SOON > SOOT > SNOT > SNOW

Did you come up with a different series of words? Or solve the puzzle in fewer than seven steps? Please share your story in the comments. Thanks!