World Languages Instructor Les Thornbury and Christ School students view Monday's total solar eclipse from Brevard.
Greenies Witness Solar Eclipse
Path of totality passes close to campus
Brevard, N.C., resident Clarke MacDonald '21 was an unofficial tour guide Monday. Clarke pointed out the bus window to local landmarks, even his home, as two dozen Christ School students crept through congested traffic to their destination.
Camp High Rocks is in a part of western North Carolina known for its waterfalls and miles of scenic mountain trails. The camp afforded Clarke and his classmates a better vantage point for something not seen in the continental United States since 1979: a total solar eclipse.
The boys along with teachers Les Thornbury (World Languages) and David Williams (Science) got to experience full totality, meaning there was darkness for about 90 seconds and noticeably cooler temperatures. A halo of light, or corona, was visible around the sun.
"This is the coolest thing I've ever seen," Clarke said. "It is definitely a lot of fun. The best part is feeling like I was a host in a kind of way."
Camp High Rocks has been in operation since 1958, and as the name states, the Greenies got to watch the eclipse from a rocky hilltop where campfires are held at night. Monday's eclipse coincided with the start of classes for the 2017-18 school year. Classes where shortened to 20 minutes, and while some like MacDonald, got to travel off campus, most of the 290 boys and faculty watched from 1:30 to 3:45 p.m. on the soccer field.
Camp High Rocks is where Williams grew up, and his family still maintains a residence there.
"This is home for me. I grew up running through these woods with bare feet," Williams said. "It anchored my soul. It's so wonderful to bring the boys here so they can experience this."
Classes will resume Tuesday at Christ School with a regular schedule.
