Freedom Road

1
Freedom Road

• Bella Coola Valley Museum
• BC Central CoastArchives

2
A Short History

• Before the road was built the only way to bring
  in supplies was by packing it in yourself, pack
  horse, plane or boat. It was clear to the valley
  residents that a road out of the valley was
  essential to its survival. A group of local
  Bella Coola residents, led by Cliff Kopas, formed
  the Bella Coola Valley Board of Trade and
  petitioned the government for support. After
  continued stalling by the government it was
  decided to go ahead with building the road. (The
  government would later support the road with a
  cash outlay totaling 58,000).
• With 250 dollars in the bank and the
  determination of the Valley residents,
  construction was started. On September 14, 1952
  construction of the road began. Alf Bracewell,
  on a rented D6 Caterpillar began at Anahim Lake
  and soon after rock breaking work began from the
  bottom of the Valley up the mountain with George
  Dalshaug operating an ancient TD18 bulldozer.

Front Row, Left to Right Elijah Gurr, Hon Phil
Gaglardi, Cliff Kopas, Evan Jones, Tony
Gargrave. Back Row, Left to Right Blondie
Swanson, Wally Stiles, Norman Saugstad, Morten
Svisdahl, Dean Gurr, Bobby Roberts, Stan
Levelton, Ralph Sneyd, Curtiss Urseth, Mike
Christensen, Ed Willson
3
Before the Road

• was built the only way to reach Anahim Lake and
  beyond was by horse or on foot.
• Prior to 1930, Anahim Lake had to have supplies
  packed in from Bella Coola.
• Orders were placed two weeks prior to the date
  set for the pack trip from Bella Coola and it
  would take three days and nights to reach Anahim
  Lake.
• There were usually six pack trips from each year
  from Summer to Fall.
•  

4
Lets Build It!!

• Elijah Gurr contacted Thomas Squinas, of Anahim
  Lake, who marked out a route across 30 miles of
  swamp and jack pine forest. With a rented
  bulldozer a crew blazed 32 miles into the
  wilderness to the rim of the valley.
• Now, with only ten miles to the Bella Coola
  valley floor, the best way down an elevation of
  6,000 ft had to be found. Elijah Gurr suggested
  going down Young Creek and Blondie Swanson and a
  government engineer scouted the best route. Due
  to hazardous winter conditions it was decided to
  start from the valley floor. The most difficult
  part of the road building began.
•  

5
Road Building

• The TD18 International Bulldozer
• George Dalshaug was hired to run an ancient TD18
  International bulldozer to start moving rock from
  the bottom of the Hill up a 15 degree slope.
  Dalshaug cleared the way for the air compressor,
  driller and blaster to clear the sheer rock
  walls.
• Additional equipment would have made the job
  faster and safer but with limited funds this was
  the best available.
•  

6
September 26, 1953

• The Date They Met
• September 26, 1953
• The two bulldozers came together on this date
  symbolizing the completion of the Freedom Road.
  Valley residents recognize this date as the
  official anniversary date.
• Who Were They?
• Too numerous to mention. It truly was a
  community effort, both locally and beyond. Even
  the people from Ocean Falls helped with
  fundraising. Bill Graham of Tatla Lake made his
  D-6 cat and operator available, not knowing for
  sure if hed ever get paid. Anahim Lake store
  owner, Ike Sing, footed many a bill for supplies
  and stood solidly behind the project, providing
  whatever was needed.
•  

7
50th Anniversary

• The People
• After 50 years the names of the people in this
  photo have not been forgotten. In our 2007
  Heritage Day contest Mrs. Beverly Saugstad was
  the winner, she was able to name 31 out of the 52
  names correctly in this photo taken at the
  celebration opening the road in 1953.
•  

They are Alf Bracewell, Alger Brynildsen, Lloyd
Brynildsen, Olive Brynildsen, Adoph Christensen,
Cyril Christensen, Jenny Christensen, Mike
Christensen, Truda Christensen, Wilfred
Christensen, Betty Jean Gurr, Doug Gurr, Elijah
Gurr, Isabel Gurr, Melvin Gurr, Boyd Hammer, Eric
Hammer, Gene Hammer, Happy Handlin, Tom Hansen,
John Jorgensen, Cliff Kopas, May Kopas, Lena
Levelton, Nils Levelton, Louise MacKay, Burt
Matthews, Bill Mecham, Jean Mecham, Jim Mecham,
Charlie Minaker, John Root, Leonard Root, Myrna
Saugstad, Norman Saugstad, Randy Saugstad,
Shirley Saugstad, Stener Saugstad, Ralph Sneyd,
Christine Sollid, Elmer Sollid, Wally Stiles,
Mike Stollar, Morton Svisdahl, Curtis Urseth,
Louise Urseth, Andy Widsten, Jean Widsten, Bill
Wright, Nellie Wright
8
Road Facts

• Cost - approximately 62,000 (58,000 govt. and
  4,000 public). This does not include all of the
  unpaid volunteer hours and donations.
• Took one year and two weeks to build.
• Is 76km (48miles) from Anahim Lake to the bottom
  of The Hill.
• Has a total of 3 switchbacks.
• Is 21 km ( 13 miles) from the Gate at the bottom
  to the Gate at Heckman Pass Summit.
• The first 6.4 km (4 miles) climbs 1,219.2 meters
  (4,000 ft).
• Total elevation 1,828.8 meters (6,000 ft).
• Grades up to 18.
• Time to travel from the bottom of the hill to
  Anahim Lake, forty-five minutes to one hour
  depending on many things.
• Road closures happen seldom and are due to
• Avalanche
• Rock Slide
• Ice

Public Works Minister P.A. (Phil) Gaglardi
officially opened Highway 20 two years after
completion, it became the third outlet to the
Pacific Ocean