Joe Cracker

Joe Cracker is a bidirectional 'easy' trail that offers an introduction to mountain biking and/or easy hiking through mixed Acadian forest. Compared to most other trails at McIntosh Run, Joe Cracker is wide, the tread is mostly dirt (less granite), and grades are shallow.

Joe Cracker is on Halifax park land. Dogs must be on leash.

Joe was built in Nov-Dec of 2020 by Shoreline Dirtworks under contract with MRWA. Joe is mostly machine-built with hand finishing.

Enjoy the ride!!

-----------------------------

The name: Joe Cracker was a 13y old boy from Herring Cove who, in 1797, saved people from the HMS Tribune when it sank off Herring Cove with 250 souls on board. Joe rowed a dory out to the Tribune, saving a handful of people from what was the first big maritime disaster in Halifax. In some reports, Joe Cracker was an orphan.

MORE (it's a good, if overall sad, tale):

On November 23, 1797, His Majesty's ship Tribune approached Halifax harbour with about 250 souls on board. Rather than wait for a Halifax pilot to guide her in, the ship's Master attempted to steer the Tribune into the harbour. She ran aground on shoals and, unknown at first, was holed. High winds and waves prevented rescue. After the crew dumped the canons and cargo, the Tribune floated free of the shoals and drifted out of control toward Herring Cove. She fillled with water and began to sink only a few hundred meters from the Cove's entrance. Residents of Herring Cove could hear anguished calls from the crew and passengers over night, but could not reach the ship.

The next morning, a 13y old boy from Herring Cove rowed a dory out to the ship and was able to save some people -- the number saved is unclear. Known to history as Joe Cracker, Joe's real name is unknown. Cracker was Royal Navy slang for a keener or a go-getter. In some accounts, Joe was an orphan. According to the account in the 1813 source, Remarkable Shipwrecks:

“The first exertion that was made for their relief was by a boy thirteen years old, from Herring Cove, who ventured off in a small skiff by himself ... This youth, with great labor and extreme risk to himself, boldly approached the wreck, and backed in his little boat so near to the fore-top as to take off two of the men, for the boat could not with safety hold any more.”

According to legend, Joe asked for a pair of cordoroy pants in return for his heroism. In other reports, this 13y old was offered a position on the HMS Resolution (consistent, perhaps, with being an orphan). However, this adventure was short lived as he was unsuitable for naval service and returned to life in Herring Cove.

Access Info

Joe Cracker can be accessed from In-and-Out trail, at a marked intersection approximately 80m from the Norawarren Park trailhead. The other end of JC is at the intersection of Nora and Warren trails.