Blaine the Pain

Mt Blaine & Flinders Peak – Two Legends, One Love/Hate Saga 🥾🔥

If you asked me to name my top two favourite hikes so far, Mt Blaine and Flinders Peak would storm the podium without a doubt. These two trails don’t just test your legs — they drag your lungs through a blender — but goddamn, every gasp and graze is worth it.

Flinders Peak: The Licorice Allsorts of Hiking

Flinders is like that perfect mixed bag of a hike: starts off chill with a nice long fire trail along the ridge that gently says, “Welcome to your workout.” Then, bam — you hit some epic rock scrambling that’ll have your heart pounding and your limbs working overtime.

At the top, you hit an old helicopter pad with a view so damn good, it makes every breathless step worthwhile. I even met a bloke running laps on the track — apparently training for the army. Yeah, mate. Respect. I was more into the ‘catch my breath and take a photo’ strategy.

Mt Blaine: The Legend of “Blaine the Pain”

Ah, Mt Blaine. She’s a beast, a tease, a torture test wrapped up in eucalyptus and spider webs. People call it “Blaine the Pain” for a reason, and after this hike, I’m singing the same tune.

The first leg is steep AF — enough to make you question your life choices and curse out loud. So, naturally, I wrote a jingle to commemorate the struggle. Feel free to sing it loudly on your next hike (in the tune of Mr Clickety Cane):

Blaine the pain

Lives up to its name but if you are truly game

a spectacular view will be your gain

Mr mountain Blaine

He plays a silly game

He makes you feel insane

As you hike on through the pain

Take your time

Or you'll break your spine

The first 10 minutes are pretty sh!t

Then there's the rocky, slippery dip

You'll make best friends with a hiking stick

Which you can pick up along the trip

Or you'll break your f'ing hip

There's a gauntlet of spider webs

That are sure to mess with your head

And just when you think you're f'ing dead

You make it to the end.

The Payoff

Despite the thigh-burning, the breath-stealing, and the spider-web mental warfare, Mt Blaine rewards you with stunning views that make the fight worth every cursed step. Flinders Peak compliments that with a “warm-up” that sneaks up on you and leaves you grinning like a madwoman at the summit.

If you’re keen for a hiking double-header that challenges your grit and gives you bragging rights, grab your boots and go smash these two.

So what’s your favourite “pain-for-the-view” hike? Drop me a line or hit subscribe for more brutally honest trail tales from Mumma Dingo. 🦘💚