HIMALAYAN JOURNAL VOLUME 64,The history of the Himalayan Club has been written, and most excellently written, by John Martyn and Muslim Contractor. John Martyn's 'The Story of the Himalayan Club' in Volume XXXV 1976- 77-78 provides a vivid history of climbing and exploration in the Himalaya before the Himalayan Club was established in 1928. It then carries the story up to 1978, covering the first 50 years of the Club. Muslim Contractor went on with 'The Continuing Story of the Himalayan Club 1978-1988' in Volume 44, 1986-1987and then in 'Such a Long Journey: The Last 15 Years 1989-2003' in Volume 59, 2003. There have been other historical articles: 'Fifty Years - Retrospect and Prospect' by Trevor Braham in Volume XXXV 1976-1978; 'The Journey of the Journal' by Harish Kapadia in Volume 50, 1992-1993; 'The Himalaya through the Journal' by Muslim Contractor also in Volume 50. This article is meant to continue the story and hence most old events are not recalled, however important they were. In 2003, Harish Kapadia produced a CD-ROM Such a Long Journey: it consists of the articles mentioned above plus Himalayan Journals'. Vol I, 1929 to Vol. 58, 2002 by Aamir Ali. It contains photographs from the Journal and of special events. In 2008, as part of the celebrations of the 80th Anniversary, the Club produced a film on its history. I am grateful to the many members of the HC who helped with information, suggestions and comments.] Introduction During the eighty years of its life, the Himalayan Club has faced three crises: first, in 1939 when war broke out; second, in 1947 when India became independent; and third, in the 60s when various developments seemed to deprive the Club of its main functions. An eightieth anniversary is not necessarily a major event; it does not have the cachet of a 50th or 75th. But there seemed to be a special air of expectancy as the 80th approached. Was the Club about to face another important turning point in its life? Anniversaries and Special Events The success of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 1978 seemed to inspire a series of anniversaries, ceremonies and celebrations. So there was the Diamond Jubilee of the Club in 1988; the Millennium in 2000; the 50th anniversary of the 'beginning of Indian mountaineering' with the first Indian expedition to climb a major peak, Trisul, in 2001; the International Year of Mountains in 2002; the 75th Anniversary of the HC in 2003; the 50th anniversary of the first ascent of Kangchenjunga in 2005; the 70th Anniversary of the first ascent of Nanda Devi in 2006. All these were marked by special dinners, lectures, illustrated talks, films, seminars, publications and visits by well known personalities. The celebrations not only helped the Club to become better known in India but strengthened its links with Alpine Clubs all over the world. The celebrations began to include excursions into the mountains. In 2003, for the 75th anniversary, the Mumbai Section organised a climb of their local Everest, Kalsubai, the highest mountain of the Sahyadris, 1646 m. The general ceremonies included an excursion to Binsar, in the Kumaun Himalaya. In 2005, the Mumbai Section organised a climb of Kenjalgad in the Sahyadris. For the 60th anniversary, 1988, the editors of the Journal, Soli Mehta and Harish Kapadia produced the book Exploring the Hidden Himalaya, and copies were distributed to all members. The purpose of the book was 'to excite and inspire the climber and trekker to take advantage of the vast possibilities of the Himalaya'. It ignored the highly publicised 8000 m peaks and focused on the less familiar and more challenging of the six and seven thousand metre summits, many of them unclimbed and unknown. It was a good antidote to the mania for the glamour peaks. Well illustrated and provided with maps and sketches, its value was attested to by the need for a second edition in 1998. Sadly, Soli Mehta passed away even before the first edition was published.