Paraplegic Racehorse. That is a very sad thing that I am hearing. I hate to be mean or anything, but you should have checked them earlier for winter stores. I do not know your situation, you may have been too busy, or just simply couldn't have got into the hives, for one reason or another. It doesn't matter. Here is southwestern B.C. we begin our feeding probably around the beginning to mid September. This time is October is really too late. BUT....
If I were you. Some friendly advice here. I would combine the hives, feed as heavily as you can and as quickly. YOu say they are in the winter cluster, but maybe with the hives combined they make make it warm enough to get to the sugar syrup to store it in cells. I really don't know. It sounds like it may be too late, but I still think that you should try. Putting a pollen patty above the cluster will help too. Can you get some pollen patty somehow made or get it?
If these bees do not make it through the winter, yes, you must look on the bright side. You must get more bees next year. I have seen you posting on our forum now and then, which means that you have a keen interest in bees. I understand it is difficult for you to work with your colonies, your ativar shows this, but you must be doing the best you can, yeah!!!!!
So, back to the bright side. When you get more bees next year, you will have drawn comb ready for your packages or nucs, whatever you get. That is a wonderful bonus.
You know I have lost so many colonies last year, because of being new to beekeeping, the varroa mite destructor, swarming, (thinking that I knew it all :roll: :( :)). I lost 9 colonies because of this learning curve. You have learned something with this too. That is a bonus too!!! Yeah!!!
Next year, remember, you are very far up north and it is dang cold. You must feed your colonies to get them enough stores for wintertime after you take off the honey. (as an aside, did you get any honey from these lovely girls this year?). Fall feeding and getting the bees ready for winter is a very very important part of the beekeeping scene, you must always be aware of what is going on in the hive.
I wish you well with your bees. Do not be too sad if things don't work out, there is always a next year, another day, tomorrow. The best of luck wishes sent, and enjoy this day and do have a great day. Cindi