By Lindsey Whitton '01

On their first Saturday morning at Deerfield, the freshmen are required to wake up at an obscenely early hour (9:00 a.m.) and participate in a forced march to the Rock, an intimidating destination that sounds like a cross between a maximum-security prison and a big-budget action-movie. Four years later, however, many of these same students will voluntarily congregate on the top of Eaglebrook hill-nostalgic, recent graduates saying good-bye to their school, perching on the edge of the rest of their life. Many students, faculty, and alumni consider the Deerfield Rock a significant part of the Deerfield experience and frequently try to find time in their schedules to make the pilgrimage. Why is this scratchy, bumpy piece of the ridge, a tiring hike above campus, so revered and treasured?

'The Rock, in addition to breathtaking views, shows me how small Deerfield actually is," Brittany List '01 explains. "It puts everything in perspective. When you're on campus, issues can seem monumental, but when you are standing on the Rock and looking down at it all, you realize that the little things are not such a big deal." Colossal, Greek-style edifices are transformed into little, red blocks, and Main Street is revealed to be only a small piece of the greater valley, dominated by farm fields and split by the snaking river. "The view is incredible,' Annie Outerbridge '04 says. "You can see so far - it's like you're on the top of the world." These sweeping vistas are enjoyed nearly every day of the year since there is no consensus on the optimal "Rock weather".

Some staunchly claim that windy, fall afternoons offer the best hike. Other students wait for the snow, while many wake-up early in the spring and climb up to the Rock before class. A few even claim that rainy days are perfect for running up and "mud sliding down!" Whether the Rock is considered an escape from Deerfield stress and monotony or a complement to Deerfield's beauty, it is appreciated and loved by almost every member of the community. Sara diBonaventura '01 said, "It's my favorite place. I have such great memories from the Rock. Someday I will bring my children up there to show them where I went to high school."

By Gaia Benitez

The Rock not only has great importance to Deerfield students, but to the geology of the valley as well. It is the highest point between the Green Mountains and Mount Greylock. It commands the valley and gives perspective. As science teacher Mr. Dick Ginns said, "It has always been a place for students to contemplate and reflect."

The history of the Rock began 220 million years ago. Deerfield was positioned four degrees north of the Equator and the earth's temperature was much warmer then. Sand, clay, stones, and solid chunks of rock began to tumble down from an ancient mountain and the sedimentary rock fell into one big jumble. Sedimentary rock is composed of many other fragments of rock. This mixture of broken earthly materials had no structure. It was scattered by cascades of water which streamed down on it and earthquakes which broke it up. The sun baked this messy mixture and made the rock a bright red called arkose. This formation is now known as Sugarloaf Arkose. The Rock presently has such a steep face because of undercutting and erosion. Some parts of the Rock were much softer than other areas and the soft parts sunk down and became the valley. The hard rock remained as the ridge despite erosion and undercutting. Today, the Rock and the ridge are at 852 feet above sea level and the valley is 145 feet above sea level. The Rock has played an important role in the valley. Mr. Ginns assures us that it has always been a center of communication because of its height and visibility. Native Americans in the surrounding area used the Rock for fire signals to communicate with other Indians.

The Rock is also an important spot for birds during their migration. Birds follow the ridge southbound and ride the hot air that rises from the valley underneath their wings. Presently, radio towers are located where fire signals once burned, including that of Deerfleld's own station, WGAJ.

Through all these years, the Rock has weathered the forces of nature, and it holds a special place in the hearts of the people of the Pocumtuck Valley. The Eaglebrook School, the boys' boarding and day school across the highway, also takes great pride in the Rock. The school has made a special effort to make sure all its buildings blend in with the surrounding terrain.

Despite the efforts of Eaglebrook and others at preserving the rock, the bright red arkose has faded with pollution. The Rock started becoming polluted when Greenfield became an industrial town and the railway was constructed. It caused the arkose to darken and lose some of it brilliance and original color. Mosses and lichen also began covering the rock. Trees and plants were able to grow because of the sedimentary rock, which is soft enough for roots to grow through. The natural plant growth combined with the pollution dulled the bright arkose. All these effects have transformed some of the original red color of the Rock but overall the valley has been kept in good condition.

Cath Spangler '01

Having found the driving range closed for the night one summer's evening, David Kaufmann '01 and Isaac Blacksin '02 weren't sure what they wanted to do with the rest of the night. "I saw that Isaac had a ton of golf balls in his room, so I suggested we go up to the Rock," David said of their midnight adventure. A few hours later, they both headed downhill, minus thirty golf balls, feeling satisfied with their night's adventure.

The entire girls' varsity Soccer team couldn't resist the allure of the Rock. They went up for a team bonding experience and ended up, "Showing our 'other side' to Deerfield,' said Beth Lynch '01. The Rock is definitely a good place to bond with someone you consider special.

Blake Vazales '02, Nick Stielau '02, and Lindsay Wei '03 woke up at the insane hour of five thirty in the morning to make the long journey up to The Rock one day. They ended up returning the easy way, sliding down on the grass of the ski slopes. "It was a really unique experience," commented Blake.

Nancy Schmicker '01, Bud Nolan '01, Doug Weeden '02 and Sara Dibonaventura '01 didn't know which pathway to take up to the Rock, but they still managed to get there and enjoy the peaceful atmosphere before school let out in 1999. "I figured I had never been there, so I had to go." Nolan said, "It was a great opportunity to take a step back from Deerfield and see it in a different perspective." They were surprised to hear a rustle in the bushes and see Mr. Murray emerge from around the corner on his bike.

"People who don't go before they graduate should be ashamed of themselves," Schmicker added, "It's one of the most beautiful places around. It really makes you happy just to be there."

Brandon Berkeley '02 usually runs up to the Rock every Monday with other members of the cross-country team. What first started as a Monday winter track routine became a personal weekly ritual for Brandon. "It's cool because it's a hard run each time we go up, but it never gets boring and its always a different experience,' Brandon says.

As published in the November 8, 2000 issue of the Deerfield Scroll, the monthly newspaper of Deerfield Academy.