I’d like to present a brief report on the winter season activations of 2026. A post about the New Year’s ascent and the summit activation of R9U/SO-065 has already been published here. Therefore, I’ll tell you about other winter activations.
January 20. R9U/SO-078.
The summit of Bolshoy Biryan has already been activated, including in winter. Due to difficult weather conditions, we decided to take a tried and tested route – to R9U/SO-078. The weather was quite frosty these days – down to -37°C. That’s about the temperature the onboard thermometer in the car showed when we reached the start of the ski section of our route. While it was indeed quite frosty down in the Lemeza River valley, it got significantly warmer on the slope as we ascended. At the summit, we chose a spot slightly sheltered from the wind.
Activation results: 21 QSOs on 14 and 10 MHz. We chose a spot for the night just below the summit, sheltered from the wind by the slope’s terrain. By morning, the weather had become more windy. We broke camp in the wind. We didn’t have a thermometer, but it felt quite cool. Our hands instantly froze if we took off our thick mittens.
We descended and reached the car without incident. The biggest challenge was starting the car. But on the third try, after some clever maneuvers, we managed to get it started.
Video about activation: https://youtu.be/2ypv6V3er7M?si=O-rVubTdoqsPKPYb
January 31. R9U/SO-124.
Akbiikbal, a fairly remote peak, had not yet been activated. However, the relatively short ski section and improving weather conditions allowed us to activate it over the weekend. The part of the Ural Mountains where this summit is located differs significantly in terrain and vegetation from the more northern part. There is always less snow here.
At the summit, we managed to find a spot for a tent. We were lucky. We found a small balcony sheltered from the wind by the ridge. We stretched the antennas between the trees. QRV from a tent is much more comfortable in winter. It’s not as cold and the wind doesn’t interfere.
Result: 30 QSOs on 7, 14, and 28 MHz.
At night, we emerged from the tent to admire the amazingly bright moon and starry sky. The weather was calm, the frost was not severe, around -15 to -18 C.
Video about activation: https://youtu.be/ZMK6anvlxvw?si=1ygbsn3P3T_24a0G
March 7. R9U/SO-018.
I’d been at the summit of Yalangas. It was a summer activation. The winter route to this summit is quite long and involves a significant elevation gain. But right from the parking lot where we left the car, there’s a well-trodden snowmobile trail. So we didn’t have to break trail, which allowed us to reach the summit in time. But I was practically exhausted at the top. I couldn’t set up antennas in the strong wind or be QRV from the rocky summit. So we pitched our tent just below the summit in a clearing surrounded by spruce trees. Only after dinner did I find the strength to stretch out the single 14 MHz dipole. The result: 24 QSOs. I slept restlessly that night, as I heard that mountain snowmobilers had woken a bear and brought it out of its den. This happened right in the area of our mountain.
In the morning, the weather changed dramatically, and a snowstorm began. I felt quite uneasy on the descent. General weakness and knee pain prevented me from enjoying freeriding. I descended with extreme caution. This was likely a consequence of the acute respiratory viral infection I had suffered in February.
Video about activation: https://youtu.be/We8cyLRMOn4?si=DCaubhgfcQks1DwQ
Then, in March, the weather began to warm up sharply. Even in the mountains, the snow began to melt rapidly. The winter skiing season had to be brought to an end.
Thanks to all radio amateurs for their support, wonderful QSOs and S2S.
73!
Vlad
RX9WT
