21 September, 2025
Trying anything new for the first time can be a daunting task. Fear of goofing up too often keeps us from starting, and enjoying, new experiences sooner. Summits on the Air (SOTA) is no different in that regard.
Our annual Field Day is one thing, but asking any ham operator to go set up a completely off-grid radio station, with the goal of making as many contacts as possible, can sound pretty intimidating if you haven’t practiced. Add in the thought of a grueling hike and trying believe that being a fun experience can be hard to imagine. But that’s where the beauty of SOTA comes in—whether you are an activator or chaser, it’s a great way to test your skills, enjoy the outdoors, and have a lot of fun along the way.
Now, I know what you might be thinking:
“Wait a minute there, Allen. You expect me to go tromping through the woods, climb thousands of feet, all while carrying a boat anchor in my backpack and fending off a grizzly?”
Well, you could do that… or you could ease into the fun with a drive-up SOTA summit.
Drive-Up SOTA: The Best of Both Worlds
Not every summit requires a grueling hike. Drive-up summits offer an easy entry point to the SOTA world—and could even inspire you to lace up those hiking boots later on. These vehicle accessible peaks can hook you into a whole new aspect of amateur radio.
Just remember: while the road or 4-wheel trail may lead you to that dreamy summit, there are a few important SOTA rules to keep in mind to make your activation official.
Key Differences Between SOTA and POTA
A major difference between Summits on the Air (SOTA) and Parks on the Air (POTA) is that you must be completely disconnected from your vehicle in SOTA. That means:
- No using the car battery for power.
- No sitting inside the car.
- No running the radio from the trunk.
Use your vehicle to get there and carry your gear, but once you’re within the Activation Zone, it’s time to go set up a station a short distance away and start calling, “CQ SOTA.”
Activation Zones
In SOTA you must be within the Activation Zone (AZ) of the designated summit for any contacts made to count. Imagine the AZ as a horizontal line drawn on contour around the mountain that is 25 meters (~82’) vertically down from summit. If you start going back uphill from the real summit (say along a ridge), that is no longer in the AZ. So beware of false summits.
Local Drive-Up Summits to Get Started
Here are some Helena-area drive-up summits (with SOTA reference numbers) where you can get a taste of SOTA without the uphill slog. These are loosely organized from easiest (top) to more challenging (bottom):
- Strawberry Butte – W7M/HB-128
- “7215” (North of MacDonald Pass) – W7M/CL-105
- Mount Belmont – W7M/CL-099
- Hogback Mountain – W7M/CL-071
- Occidental Plateau – W7M/HB-146
If you decide to try one of these for the first time I highly advise you to check with someone who has gone before to get a good idea about the trail and conditions. Also make sure your vehicle is up for the adventure. A 4-wheel drive vehicle with a little clearance is also recommended.
If you’re up for giving this adventure a try, don’t wait too long—some of these peaks become inaccessible once the snow flies. Have questions about gear, access, routes, or SOTA in general? Don’t hesitate to reach out to me or Rob Kingery (AE7AP). Rob has an even longer list of drive-up, and short hike, summits and would be glad to share more info.
Final Thoughts
SOTA doesn’t have to mean extreme hiking, brutal pack-outs, or bear encounters (unless you’re into that). A drive-up summit might be just the thing to get your feet wet—and maybe, just maybe, it’ll spark your next great ham radio adventure. Above all (pun intended) the views from our Montana summits are amazing and leave you with a deeper appreciation for this area we call home. I am confident you will find the SOTA community very welcoming and encouraging to new operators. Let me know if I can help in anyway. 73, Allen
~ Pictures below are from my drive-up to Occidental Plateau on 9/21/2025. ~
