Walkers: John (Leader), Greg, Lou, Mike, Sue, Michael and visitor Kirti.
Distance: 12.8kms
Rating: Grade 3 (Medium)
Elevation: 500 metres
Between 1875 and 1881 there was a tunnel built through the Mt William range to take fresh water to Stawell. It was to view this tunnel that the 7 of us set off from the Robins Road carpark in Pomonal at 9:45am. The carpark is opposite the Pomonal cafe. Weather conditions were perfect and there were no incidents to report. The first 2.7 kms of the walk were on a well maintained track and along the way we came across a comfortable looking couch which some made use of on the way back. There was plenty evidence of the bushfires which had gone through the area.
The next 1.2 kms was a steady climb up Tunnel Road. This was a dirt road and it was as we were walking up it that Greg, one of the club’s more experienced members and an expert in local flora spied a very large mushroom. You can see this mushroom in one of the photos we took. We had a break at the Pomonal end of the tunnel and it was here that Mike took an extraordinary photograph of the tunnel. There is a display board which provides information on the tunnel and it was truly a great engineering feat to build a tunnel under the Mt William range.
The next 1.3 kms led up a rocky track towards the high point of the walk which was the lowest point of the Mt William range. There is a small cairn and it was a good spot to have a short break. Trees partly obstructed the views but as we descended down the other side of the range we could see nice views of Lake Bellfield. The 1.2 kms down to the Lake Bellfield end of the tunnel was along a track just as rocky as the track on the other side. Our turnaround point was the little grass carpark at the tunnel end so we don’t descend completely to Lake Bellfield. This end of the tunnel did not provide us with any views inside the tunnel but it was a great place to have lunch and relax before we began the return leg. Mike can be seen relaxing in one of the photographs.
The return leg was uneventful and, after a short break at the cairn, we headed for the Pomonal cafe where we all indulged in the many treats available. It was a good day for a walk and I would like to thank everyone for coming along and being such good company.
