Bear Creek Greenway – Talent to Medford

We once again beat the odds and hiked in good weather despite the forecasts. The hike started in downtown Talent and ended with brunch at Crackin and Stackin on Jackson Street in Medford, over 9 miles away. We had some light rain the first half hour then it turned dry and warmed up a bit. It was a good chance to see the greenway and surroundings 16 months after the Almeda Fire. Construction was still going on but there are now hundreds of FEMA structures along the way.

On the Greenway, all of the undergrowth has been removed and lots of trees have been planted. Incredibly, as we crossed Blue Heron Park in Phoenix, a blue heron flew by us. The bike trail itself has been much improved, with new sections of cement and with dangerous roots removed.

As we passed 8 miles, one unnamed hiker hinted we might cut it short at the Black Bear, but we bashed on and reached our objective. Near downtown Medford we could see the horrible messes made by the homeless along Bear Creek and one strange chap was dancing around barefoot.

We managed to secure a table at the Crackin and Snackin after a short wait (It is very popular) and following my coaching we all ordered seniors menus, which were more than adequate. The service and food were excellent.

After lunch we strolled back to the bus station (extra credit accorded) and the bus was waiting and on time. Twenty minutes later we were back at our vehicle in Talent. Note: the bus leaves every 20 minutes, so anyone wanting a one way hike can easily return by bus. I sent in a picture of the Bear Creek Valley, representing what we hiked. The 9 miles felt like 9 miles by the time we 5 hardy hikers had finished.