User:Osemary

The Grand California Traverse is a new route for walkers between the Pacific Ocean and the Sierra Nevada. The name was selected in 2009 by leader Mary Ose who defined the route over a period of several years. Beginning in November 2008, Mary and nine other hikers from the Orinda Hiking Club in Orinda, California, began the historic first traverse. Originally referred to as the "Walk Across California," the WAC'ers (also known as the Wackers) gained notoriety as they crossed the state, prompting a number of newspapers and other media as well as local elected officials to celebrate them and their quest.

The route uses many public trails, connecting them with bikepaths, urban sidewalks, and bridges. 100% of the GCT is on foot, distinguishing it from other routes which require non-pedestrian modes of transport. No ferries, subways or road vehicles are needed to make this journey.

Segments of the route are bounded by beaches and bridges. The westernmost segment is Beach to Bridge. The GCT starts at Waddell Beach north of Santa Cruz, California. It meanders NE following trails in Big Basin State Park to trails in Castle Rock State Park. At the ridgeline of the coastal range, the route heads north through a number of open space preserves including Saratoga Gap OSP, Upper Stevens Creek County Park, MonteBello OSP, Foothills Park, and Arastradero Park. From Arastradero Park, the route crosses I-280 on Page Mill Road then cuts across the Stanford University campus to University Avenue which leads to East Palo Alto and the Dumbarton Bridge, a pedestrian-friendly bridge over the San Francisco Bay.

The next segment is Bridge to Bridge. At the east end of the Dumbarton Bridge is the Don Edwards Nature Reserve, from which the path crosses over the tops of the toll booths of CA-84 into Coyote Hills Regional Park. At this park's NE end is the Alameda Creek Regional Trail which leads to sidewalks through Union City to Dry Creek Regional Park. Trails in Dry Creek RP connect to trails in Garin Regional Park. As of early 2009, one must exit Garin at its Zeile Creek entrance and walk uphill through subdivisions and then north along Fairview Avenue to Don Castro Park. There are provisions in place for an area land banked by the East Bay Regional Parks District to be opened at which time a walker will be able to connect from Garin through a golf course directly into the new regional park and on to Five Canyons Park which leads to a connector trail to Don Castro Park.

Leaving Don Castro, the GCT crosses under I-580 and connects to Cull Canyon Park via some urban walkways. From Cull Canyon one accesses property owned by East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD; advance permit required) which heads up to the ridge of Las Trampas Regional Park. At the end of the ridges the trail picks up the Las Trampas-Mt. Diablo Connector which leads to Macedo Ranch in Mt. Diablo State Park. Although there are alternative ways to pass through MDSP, the GCT connects to the Burma Road which in turn connects to the Mitchell Canyon Trail. At its end, the GCT heads east to Clayton where it uses the Clayton Trail connector to the Black Diamond Mines Regional Park. From BDMRP, the route passes through Contra Loma Park before connecting to the Delta De Anza Trail to city streets leading to the Antioch Bridge.

The next segment is Bridge to Bridge. The Antioch Bridge is the gateway to the Sacramento River Delta. Following mostly minor roads and slough levees, the GCT crosses 7 islands before reaching Yolo County and Raley Field in West Sacramento on the west side of the Sacramento River at the Tower Bridge.

The next segment is Bridge to Bridge. Crossing the Tower Bridge into downtown Sacramento, the route passes through the Rotunda of the State Capitol, then east through the "Fab 40's" residential neighborhood of East Sacramento, then across the campus of California State University, Sacramento. On the east side of the campus, the Guy West footbridge is the gateway to the American River Parkway which follows the course of the American River to the city of Folsom. The Parkway evolves into a series of trails that run north along the west side of Folsom Lake, ending with the Pioneer Express Trail which leads to the Auburn State Recreation Area. Trails through the western portion of the Auburn State Recreation Area lead to the No Hands Bridge, a pedestrian-only bridge across the American River just below the confluence of its Middle and North Forks.

The easternmost and longest segment is Bridge to Beach. Crossing the No Hands Bridge, the GCT is on and off portions of the Western States and Tevis Cup Trails as well as other trails in the Tahoe National Forest. For close to 100 miles it meanders north of the American River to the summit of the Sierra before descending into the ski areas. Using