Camping

the blog of an intrepid introvert

new blog every other friday!

Hey there! My name is Hannah Smentkowski, I'm an adventure travel photographer, and a huge plant nerd!

Here I share my traveling, camping, and hiking adventures in hopes of inspiring you to go outside and explore.

more about me

photography portfolio

even introverts are social sometimes...

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My Top 3 Favorite Outdoor Gear Companies That You Need to Check Out

Hannah Smentkowski

Sep 3
5 min

My Top 3 Favorite Outdoor Gear Companies That You Need to Check Out

When shopping for camping or hiking gear it can get a bit overwhelming with the choices of products and brands. And it's especially scary...

111 views

5 Insider Tips From a Former Camping Store Employee

Hannah Smentkowski

Jun 25
5 min

5 Insider Tips From a Former Camping Store Employee

I never thought working a sales job in retail would be a dream career, with long hours, upset customers, and standing on my feet all day,...

521 views

Hannah Smentkowski

May 14
6 min

The 7 Best Places to Buy Camping Gear

While I usually pride myself on being pretty minimalist with most of the items in my life, I have a bit of an issue when it comes to...

129 views

The 5 Best and 5 Worst Camping Items You Can Buy at Walmart

Hannah Smentkowski

Apr 30
6 min

The 5 Best and 5 Worst Camping Items You Can Buy at Walmart

I used to be one of those people that worked at a camping store and received amazing discounts, like 50% off $300 backpacks kind of...

46 views

Backpacking Catalina Island: Day 1, Two Harbors to Little Harbor

Hannah Smentkowski

Apr 9
10 min

Backpacking Catalina Island: Day 1, Two Harbors to Little Harbor

I hate boats, I hate being on, around, or even talking about them. Not for the typical fear of sinking or drowning, but there's an...

106 views

Camping Catalina Island: Everything you need to know before planning your island adventure

Hannah Smentkowski

Apr 2
7 min

Camping Catalina Island: Everything you need to know before planning your island adventure

While my knowledge of Catalina originally began with the movie Step Brother's and the "Freakin' Catalina Wine Mixer", I now know that...

912 views

Car Camping 101: The top 10 items you need for camping

Hannah Smentkowski

Mar 19
6 min

Car Camping 101: The top 10 items you need for camping

While I believe it is best to be almost overly prepared when camping in the wilderness, there are ways to make it happen with only the...

245 views

Bringing Your Dog to Joshua Tree National Park: how I made it work

Hannah Smentkowski

Nov 27, 2020
3 min

Bringing Your Dog to Joshua Tree National Park: how I made it work

Surprisingly, national parks are not dog friendly, this means they can't go with you on most if not any trail. For a person who loves...

49 views

Joshua Tree in November: yes, it does get cold in the desert

Hannah Smentkowski

Nov 20, 2020
2 min

Joshua Tree in November: yes, it does get cold in the desert

Joshua tree National Park is a magical desert oasis. A place for all kinds of people, from hippies high on mushrooms to families doing a...

38 views

Damn, Camping is Expensive: my top 3 cheap and pricey camping gear that I use

Hannah Smentkowski

Oct 23, 2020
4 min

Damn, Camping is Expensive: my top 3 cheap and pricey camping gear that I use

I love camping gear (and my dog, I swear). Everything from headlamps to backpacks to tents, I know each piece of gear I acquire will get...

78 views

Worries in the Woods: Tips on how to stop your anxieties on camping alone.

Hannah Smentkowski

Oct 16, 2020
3 min

Worries in the Woods: Tips on how to stop your anxieties on camping alone.

I really enjoy camping by myself (with or without my dog Leo here), but that doesn't always come with a whole bunch of confidence. Even...

41 views

Alone in the Wilderness: What is it really like to camp by yourself?

Hannah Smentkowski

Oct 5, 2020
3 min

Alone in the Wilderness: What is it really like to camp by yourself?

To put it mildly, I'm an introvert. I prefer to do almost everything by myself, from grabbing a beer at the brewery to going on outdoor...

78 views

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the blog of an intrepid introvert

new blog every other friday!

even introverts are social sometimes...

subscribe to Get more adventure in your inbox!

My Top 3 Favorite Outdoor Gear Companies That You Need to Check Out

5 Insider Tips From a Former Camping Store Employee

The 7 Best Places to Buy Camping Gear

The 5 Best and 5 Worst Camping Items You Can Buy at Walmart

Backpacking Catalina Island: Day 1, Two Harbors to Little Harbor

Camping Catalina Island: Everything you need to know before planning your island adventure

Car Camping 101: The top 10 items you need for camping

Bringing Your Dog to Joshua Tree National Park: how I made it work

Joshua Tree in November: yes, it does get cold in the desert

Damn, Camping is Expensive: my top 3 cheap and pricey camping gear that I use

Worries in the Woods: Tips on how to stop your anxieties on camping alone.

Alone in the Wilderness: What is it really like to camp by yourself?

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car camping checklist!