SOTA Appalachia NYD S2S Event - 7th Edition | Activity Starts ~1 PM
Allen Graves
Dear Activators, Chasers, and Friends,
We’re excited to announce the SOTA Appalachia New Year’s Day Summit-to-Summit Event - the ongoing evolution of what began as the New Year’s Day Summit-to-Summit QSO Party. Like many long amateur radio names, this one naturally shortens to NYD S2S. The updated wording better reflects the spirit of SOTA: simple, open, adventurous, and experience-driven - a tradition for some, and a choose-your-own-adventure opportunity for others.
The event started on New Year’s Day in 2020, when a handful of us independently decided the weather was far too good to stay indoors. Without planning or coordination, we headed to different mountaintops across Virginia. Most of us didn’t know each other yet, but once we heard those first summit-to-summit calls, it felt like we were part of the same story. We all agreed the experience was worth repeating - and the New Year’s Day tradition was born.
This will be the seventh edition. To date: five successful activations, one weather cancellation. Current score: Mother Nature 1; SOTA 5 - here’s hoping 2026 tips it further in our favor!
For activators, New Year’s Day is a chance to reset and begin the year with a fresh summit log. In SOTA’s achievement system, each summit can be activated once per year for points - so many of us kick off the new year by revisiting favorite summits, trying new routes, or testing that radio gear that mysteriously appeared under the tree. Whether you do SOTA for the tradition, the challenge, or the pure fun of it, the day is yours to shape however you like. The best part? There are no dues, no meetings, and no obligations - just radio, adventure, and your own style.
And if you’re new to SOTA, this is one of the easiest and most enjoyable days to try your first activation with so many folks on summits. SOTA is extremely beginner-friendly - no formal joining, no prerequisites, and no pressure. You don’t need special gear to get started - an HT works great for NYD. Pair it with a Smiley whip, run open squelch to catch weak stations, and if you want a little extra punch, a lightweight roll-up J-pole tossed in a tree can make your signal travel surprisingly far. If you’d like suggestions for fun beginner-friendly summits, just ask - we’re always happy to help.
The NYD S2S Event celebrates participation in every form: activators on summits, chasers at home, operators joining from other states or countries, or someone calling in from the road with their SOTA dog’s ears flapping in the breeze. There’s no “right” way to take part - if you can get on the air, you’re part of it.
Activity typically starts around 1 PM - enough time for daylight to warm things up and for anyone who excelled on New Year’s Eve to regain vertical alignment.
Expect lively pileups on 146.52 FM. You may need a little timing, a little luck, and a little patience to punch through - half the fun is the controlled chaos. As with any event (think VAQP), limited VHF frequencies aren’t exclusive, so leave short pauses so chasers can slip in. Spreading out across 146.490, 146.550, and 146.580 helps ease the congestion. Using 30 kHz spacing prevents overlap, and spotting your frequency gives chasers a fighting chance when things get busy. Chasers can also help by checking the alternate VHF frequencies when things get crowded.
SSB and CW are also popular during the event, so keep an eye on the HF spots. UHF on 446.000 FM sometimes comes alive too.
A few years ago, we noticed that 220 MHz had fewer than a thousand summit QSOs logged - far below the millions on the 144 MHz and the HF bands. There’s no worldwide allocation for 220, so that’s not surprising, but a few activators have been nudging 223.500 FM into the spotlight. The global tally has climbed slowly to 2,586 summit QSOs. We can’t take credit for all of it, but we’re happy adding a few more to a band that rarely gets attention. If you have 220 capability, jump in!
A quick note for winter hikers: even mild days can hide snow and ice on shaded sections. When in doubt, turn around - the summit will still be there tomorrow. In SOTA, our quiet hierarchy remains: Safety first, summit second, QSOs third. And if the weather turns unfriendly, there’s no pressure - chasing from home is just as much a part of the fun.
If you plan to activate, please consider posting an alert - it helps chasers prepare, helps activators avoid choosing the same summit, and increases the chance of more unique S2S contacts for everyone.
We can’t wait to hear the pileups, stories, and summit adventures that will come out of the 7th edition of the NYD S2S Event. Whether you make one contact or thirty, whether this is your first activation or your hundredth, you’re part of the SOTA Appalachia family the moment you join in. Let’s start the new year with radios, ridgelines, and good company.
And after the event, feel free to share your photos, activation stories, and summit moments on the SOTA Appalachia Groups Io page - we love seeing everyone’s New Year’s Day adventures.
Stay safe, stay warm, and enjoy the adventure.
73,
Allen, AG4VA
P.S. Pro tip: Keep a hot thermos waiting in the car. That first sip after the hike down is hard to beat.
New to SOTA? Start here: https://www.sota.org.uk/
Summits, maps, live spots, achievements — everything to create your own adventure.
SOTA Appalachia Resources:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/294996811399188
Groups IO: https://groups.io/g/SOTAppalachia
Useful links:
Spots: https://sotl.as/spots/sotawatch
Alerts: https://sotl.as/alerts
Tip: You can sort by region using a SOTA Association code:
W4 (Southeast region)
W4V (Virginia)
W8V (West Virginia)
HamAlert: https://hamalert.org/about
Instant notifications when someone is spotted - no refreshing required. Available for both iPhone and Android.
David Gordon
Sent: Friday, December 26, 2025 5:42:35 PM
To: via Valley Hams <valle...@googlegroups.com>
Cc: Burrous Snellings <bsnel...@gmail.com>
Subject: [Valley Hams] SOTA Appalachia NYD S2S Event - 7th Edition | Activity Starts ~1 PM
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