We're back to The Crestview in Woburn with another wonderful evening of sweet mountain reminiscences, hors d'oevres, pre-dinner slide show, dinner, business meeting and great entertainment.

The Woburn location last year worked out for our North Country contingents and Boston-area OH. It's easy to get to, just a mile and a half off I-93 which is close to the junction of I-93 and I-95. The parking's free and there are several close by motels. See the driving directions below.

The festivities start at 5:00 p.m. with Happy Hour, but come earlier if you would like to rehearse for a part in the chorus of the Song of the Huts. Last year, you heard our official hut song for the first time performed by Fred Stott, Jen Granducci and Ned Claflin. This year, we go on the road with it for a performance at the AMC's 125th Anniversary Annual Meeting February 10, 2001. Call Fred Stott at 978 475 2290 for details.

The business meeting will be delightfully brief, but we'll take enough time to recognize one of our venerable members Bertram Swoop Goodwin who has stayed in touch with the OHA ever since his hut days.

Then on to our presentation for the evening with OH Misha Kirk whose topic touches on several interesting issues for outdoorsmen today. In April 2000, Misha participated in a team effort to complete the first leg of a three-part Himalayan expedition. Tough enough for anyone, but add the degree of difficulty that Misha is a cancer survivor and one of the climbers, Ed Hommer, is a double-below-the-knee amputee. Throw in an avalanche and a resultant Sherpa porter strike and the group had to change their plans to scale 22,000 foot Singu Chuli. But Misha and Ed did summit 18,000 foot Rakshi Peak and then Ed climbed 19,000 foot Tharpu Chuli with three other members of the team.

This and much more was profiled on NBC-TV's "Dateline" program and will be featured again on the Discovery Channel June 25, 2001.

Misha and his family live in Glen, NH and is working towards his RN degree to become a Nurse Practioner. His work for the AMC started in the winter of '79-'80 after ten years in the Green Berets as a medic in Vietnam and a ski instructor in the Alps. This background qualified him for kitchen duty at Pinkham, then on to Tucks, summers in Guided Hikes and three winters as Notch Watch and as Search and Rescue coordinator. In the '80s, he moved to Colorado for a degree in Biology and Kinesology, also running the medical research and rescue camp on Mt. McKinley, climbing, running the "Ironman" Triathlon in Hawaii, athletic trainer at the University of Colorado and medical emergency supervisor at CU's Recreation Center. Misha started medical school in 1990, but left his second year to treat his cancer and was declared cancer free in 1995. He returned to work in 1997 at Crawford's, Tucks, Lakes caretaker, then two years in the Education Department at Pinkham. He has worked at Attitash and Black Mountain on the ski patrols.

Dinner is $30, $25 for present crews. Use the reply envelope (in the regular Resuscitator) for making your reservation. Our dinner count must be guaranteed by January 12. Walk ins cannot be guaranteed a dinner.

Directions to The Crestview
From the North on I-93, cross I- 95 (Rt.128) and take Exit 36, Montvale Ave. Take a right onto Montvale Ave. for two miles to The Crestview which is on the right before Woburn Center. Parking is in the rear of the building.

From the South on I- 93, take Exit 36, Montvale Ave., a left on Montvale Ave. and proceed as above.

From I- 95 (Rt.128), exit at Rt.93 South and follow directions from the North.

For overnighters, there is a Howard Johnson Motor Lodge on Montvale Ave at Rt. 93 (781) 935 8160 and a Crowne Plaza on Washington St., Woburn (781) 932 0999.