Report by Peter, VE7PAE
Winter Field Day is an annual amateur radio event designed to test the ability of operators to establish and maintain communication in harsh winter conditions. Unlike traditional contests, the focus is on practical field operations, emergency preparedness, and working outdoors in cold weather. Participants set up their stations outside, in vehicles, cabins, or improvised shelters to simulate real‑world conditions in which communication might be required during emergencies. The Winter Field Day Association emphasizes that low temperatures, snow, ice, and short daylight hours provide challenging conditions for testing equipment and operator skills. Winter Field Day 2026 ran for a total of 30 hours.