Olavtoppen (OlavPeak) lies 780 metres above sea level on Bouvet Island and has never been activated in the SOTA programme. The island is described as the most remote uninhabited island on Earth.
The 3Y0KDX expedition was there from 1 to 14 March 2026. I spoke to Stian LB5SH, who took part in this DX expedition. Stian has sent us photos he took during a helicopter flight over the island, in which the peak is clearly visible.
He explains that if they were to climb to the summit, they would have had to set off from Camp Fie, and in that case, they would have needed an experienced guide. It would have been a very extensive undertaking for just a few QSOs, and he goes on to say that in that case they would have spent a lot of valuable time that could have been spent on 3Y0K expedition activities.
It was therefore never a completely realistic idea to activate Olavtoppen, because it would have taken a whole day there and back, but he says it was tempting.
Here is the SOTA peak – so close, and yet so far away (the peak lies on the horizon behind the rearmost tent)
In case of serious accident, nobody would be coming to come rescue you and fly you to the nearest hospital… so I think more that one exprienced montaineer would be needed to keep risks to the absolute minimum!
Thanks for sharing the story and pictures. We can only dream of such an activation!
I’d skip the 4 QSOs entirely.
What’s the point of all this? Getting dropped by a helicopter onto a summit just to work your mates on 2m FM for a few minutes… for what, exactly?
An activation is one contact. As a commercial copter owner/pilot from 1981, I visualize several possibilities, including use of a KH-1 with attached whip, drop-off of a snow shod operator from the ships crew, and pick-up by the copter when it’s not needed elsewhere. Cracking good bragging rights, second only to an Everest activation.
Only a handful of people have climbed this mountain; these are the first and last ones for whom I have found any documentation:
“In February 2012 an international team approached from the west, using an inflatable to land on a small beach giving access to the plateau, which is otherwise guarded by steep ice cliffs. On February 20th William Allen, Bruno Rodi, and Jason Rodi, led by New Zealand guide Aaron Halstead, negotiated extensively crevassed, but technically straightforward, ground to make the first ascent of Olvatoppen, returning to the main ship after a round trip of nine hours. The next day Halstead led a second team of Sarto Blouin, Chakib Bouayed, Akos Hivekovics, Cindy Sampson, and Seth Sherman to the top. There is no previous record or evidence of Olavtoppen being climbed from the coast.” source: AAC Publications - Antarctica, Bouvetoya, Olatoppen (774m), First True Ascent
I love a challenge!