Echo Summit
Encyclopedia
Echo Summit is a mountain pass
(also known as Johnson Pass) located in eastern El Dorado County, California
, USA. At an elevation of 7382 ft (2,250 m), it is the highest point on U.S. Route 50 in California
, which traverses it at postmile
66.48 between Twin Bridges
and Meyers
, south of Lake Tahoe
.
The "Sierra Nevada Southern Route" (aka the "Pioneer Route") of the Lincoln Highway
, the first road across the United States of America, was routed over Echo Summit in 1913. (The "Sierra Nevada Northern Route" of the Lincoln Highway goes over Donner Pass
.)
Echo Summit is notable for being the location of the high altitude Olympic Trials
, held September 6–16, 1968 and Training Camp, in anticipation of the high altitude Olympics in Mexico City
later in 1968. Four world records
were achieved during the trials. One of the first Tartan track
s was constructed in the middle of the forest for this event. After its use, the track was torn out and reinstalled at nearby South Tahoe Middle School, where it survived until 2006.
Mountain pass
A mountain pass is a route through a mountain range or over a ridge. If following the lowest possible route, a pass is locally the highest point on that route...
(also known as Johnson Pass) located in eastern El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County, California
El Dorado County is a county located in the historic Gold Country in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and foothills of the U.S. state of California. The 2010 population was 181,058. The El Dorado county seat is in Placerville....
, USA. At an elevation of 7382 ft (2,250 m), it is the highest point on U.S. Route 50 in California
U.S. Route 50 in California
In the U.S. state of California, U.S. Route 50 runs east from I-80 in West Sacramento to the Nevada state line in South Lake Tahoe. Portions within Sacramento are known as the Capital City Freeway and El Dorado Freeway...
, which traverses it at postmile
California postmile
California uses a postmile system on all of its state highways, including U.S. Routes and Interstate Highways. The postmile markers indicate the distance a route travels through individual counties, as opposed to mile markers that indicate the distance traveled through a state.-Format:A postmile...
66.48 between Twin Bridges
Twin Bridges, California
Twin Bridges is a small unincorporated community on U.S. Route 50 near the Desolation Wilderness in El Dorado County, California. It is located west of Echo Summit, at an elevation of 6115 feet . It has a population of 14 people according to census figures, however as of 2008 the road sign lists...
and Meyers
Meyers, California
Meyers is a small unincorporated community in El Dorado County, California, United States, along U.S. Route 50 in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada south of South Lake Tahoe in the Lake Tahoe area. It lies at an elevation of 6352 feet...
, south of Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe
Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater lake in the Sierra Nevada of the United States. At a surface elevation of , it is located along the border between California and Nevada, west of Carson City. Lake Tahoe is the largest alpine lake in North America. Its depth is , making it the USA's second-deepest...
.
The "Sierra Nevada Southern Route" (aka the "Pioneer Route") of the Lincoln Highway
Lincoln Highway
The Lincoln Highway was the first road across the United States of America.Conceived and promoted by entrepreneur Carl G. Fisher, the Lincoln Highway spanned coast-to-coast from Times Square in New York City to Lincoln Park in San Francisco, originally through 13 states: New York, New Jersey,...
, the first road across the United States of America, was routed over Echo Summit in 1913. (The "Sierra Nevada Northern Route" of the Lincoln Highway goes over Donner Pass
Donner Pass
Donner Pass is a mountain pass in the northern Sierra Nevada, located above Donner Lake about nine miles west of Truckee, California. It has a steep approach from the east and a gradual approach from the west....
.)
Echo Summit is notable for being the location of the high altitude Olympic Trials
United States Olympic Trials (track and field)
The United States Olympic Trials for the sport of Track and Field is the quadrennial meet to select the United States representatives at the Olympic Games. Since 1992, the meet has also served as the USA Outdoor Track and Field Championships. Because of the depth of competition in some events,...
, held September 6–16, 1968 and Training Camp, in anticipation of the high altitude Olympics in Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
later in 1968. Four world records
1968 in athletics
While the most notable story coming out of 1968 was Socio-Political, politics involved with the Olympics was not something unique to this year. However, the year marked the beginning of several emerging elements of contemporary Track and Field.-Automatic timing:...
were achieved during the trials. One of the first Tartan track
Tartan track
Tartan Track is the trademarked all-weather synthetic track surfacing made of polyurethane which is used for track and field competitions. It lets athletes compete in bad weather without serious performance loss and improves their results over other surfaces...
s was constructed in the middle of the forest for this event. After its use, the track was torn out and reinstalled at nearby South Tahoe Middle School, where it survived until 2006.