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| Landmark #1048 | El Dorado County | Visited: July 12, 2015 | Plaque? YES! 🙂 |
| What is it? | A plaque on the side of a huge, moss-covered boulder! |
| What makes it historical? | THE GUIDE SAYS: In 1968, Echo Summit served as a high-altitude training center and site of the U.S. Olympic Men’s Track and Field trials. Four world records were shattered here on the track carved out of the El Dorado National Forest. The U.S. team selected for the 1968 Olympic Games in Mexico City was celebrated worldwide for its athletic dominance and deep commitment to racial equality.
OTHER TIDBITS: The reason this site was chosen for the track and field team was because Mexico City has a high elevation, and this site was only off by 28 feet! This probably helped with the breaking of records in the long jump, 100m, 200m, and 400m! The track was temporarily installed here then moved to South Tahoe Intermediate School, where it stayed until 1992! At the time, there was a lot of pressure for African-American athletes to boycott the Olympics entirely after the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr. and Bobby Kennedy, and at these Olympic Games, Tommie Smith and John Carlos both raised their fists for black power at the medal stands! |
| How can I Help the Helpers? | HERE’S HOW:
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| Where is this place? | LISTED DIRECTIONS: Just off of Hwy 50, in the entrance to the parking lot for Adventure Mountain recreation area ANNOTATIONS: From Los Angeles: ~475mi (765km) — 8hrs |
| When should I go? | Whenever the mood strikes you! |