At the top of Gibbet Hill lies the ruins of an old castle. Its stone skeleton is discolored and chipped away from weathering, and a fuzzy layer of moss lingers in the shady corners at its base. Fields of emerald grass and trees, tinged with the slightest orange of fall, surround the crumbling structure. In the vast landscape, brown and black cows leisurely graze on grass and pepper the breathtaking scenery. This is Bancroft Castle on the Gibbet Hill trail—a common site girls cross country visits annually for practice.
This year, we went to Bancroft Castle on a sunlit Tuesday afternoon. I had caught a cold the prior weekend, and I was not looking forward to participating in practice, dreading the hill training that was in store for us. However, once we arrived, we made our way through a soggy field before ascending the trail ridden with mud and sprawling roots. Upon reaching the top, we were informed of our practice: three laps up and around the hill. Trust me, it doesn’t sound that bad until you're the one doing it. I remember trying to catch my breath on the second lap, running a light jog while taking notice of the nature around me. Two oak trees in the distance caught my attention—they grew so close next to each other that they looked like couples enjoying the view of the hill’s slope. It made me think about how a year had passed since I was last at Bancroft Castle, overlooking the beauty of Gibbet Hill myself. So much and so little had changed. I was a Fourth Former now—with new classes, teachers, and dorms—yet here, the castle was still standing firmly upright, unperturbed by the New England rain; the cows were still idling in the fields amid the capricious autumn air; and once again, I was on this hill, running strenuous circles up and around. I was suddenly aware that this was my second year seeing Bancroft Castle and that I would only see it two more times afterward: next year and the year following. Although being a Fourth Former has been an adjustment, I am incredibly grateful for every moment back on campus, taking excursions to Gibbet Hill and embracing all that Groton has to offer.