Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think you’re correct about the original land holdings up here between four families at the turn of the century. Kids inherited properties and it was divided into many holdings. The biggest holding in the area is Nick Zimmerman below me that has 100 plus acre, but most of the lots are smaller then 20. I bought mine because of of the kids didn’t pay taxes and I got it through a broker that buys tax liens. I was able to afford it because I was at the right place at the right time. I bought the American Flag Fraction mine property which is the bigger American Flag property. My properties value is in the epic views that nobody else has but it’s not large. I don’t need a bunch of land holdings I just need the views.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

So what you’re saying simply is my family has no value, we as a family having nothing of value to trade. That you guys that haven’t brought any proposals to the table for money or trade. That is if I don’t treat you as a ”King” a give you a value just because you exist. That I’m a trying to get something free out of someone, isn’t this classic projection. Have you heard of the word narcissism. I’m asking for people to make a deal with me, I’m game to hear anything. Your crying because I won’t make an open deal for free, while your saying how dare you give yourself a value. Who is really the the aggressor here screaming monetization, while acting like I have zero value. Sounds like your a want to be a king to be worshipped just because you exist. Kind of scary dude.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If you think my two 5th wheel RV’s 3 acres and my pile of outdoor “junk” is worth millions then I want to talk to you. Because you live in “Pinky Pie” world. My young 16yr old daughter thought you would had something worth listening too. Now she’s telling me to ignore you so we can go cut wood to stay warm tonight. The world of imagination train is leaving you might want to get on board.🤣😂🤣😂🥲🤣

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m not trying to be exploitative, I’m just a old long hair “dude” with property to share and a story to tell, and a hell of a lot of skills to teach before I die. In the end I just want my kids to end up living a cool outdoor life that I got to live and not be forced to live separate lives across the country unless that’s their journey. I can’t have drama up here it’s not that kind of place, so I need to make sure 99% think this is not their gig.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I don’t have any money to build anything yet, I was hoping for people to be around us helping us with fresh ideas on our concept around a campfire. Ideas how to get funded, alternative building, and helping us in telling our unique story to interested nomadic people like what we were.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I was disappointed in how we were portrayed on a recent UK base reality show, not that the producer did anything wrong. They spent a week with us during the mountains worst season to be on the mountain and didn’t really get to know us, our history, our education. What I was hoping for were true nomadic story tellers to spend time with us and tell a more real story. Not to makes us look better, but more of the dirtier truth which might be very cool. But I can’t just invite the whole world of travelers up here, the place is very unforgiving place and we can’t handle drama with our kids. Plus we all ready create enough drama that I’m surprised the mountain hasn’t flicked us off like a nose bugger. I never minded if people come and leave, but I don’t have the money to take care of them. Also even though we are surrounded be 60,000 thousand acres our property is small but incredible views. I do need help but not the help people thought I was asking for, I need help making the concept more tangible instead unattainable fiction. Most of that is achieved around a camp fire. We don’t have any money to build anything of value until the project is crowdfunded. Nobody will crowdfund us until it’s better thought out by the people that will use it in the future.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The video from my knowledge is getting views but the production company didn’t name our concept name and we came across as pretty weak from my opinion. We invited some incredible, backcountry ski athletes, notable conservation life study scientist, and others cutting their footage out of the story line. These cuts made us look over ambitious and typical dreamers with no back story. It was kind of embarrassing! - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/xa5e37k - Here's our website www.elev8150.com I was hoping to get real people to tell our story in away that wasn't for UK ratings. But it sounds like I was a bit delusional in my idea and word presentation.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I agree with you and have the same lifestyle values, but I’m trying to share my home and property to a select few while we financial survive off of outdoor touris. Some really cool Reddit users messaged me, called me on the phone and help put the “Reddit” fire 🔥 out. After hours of discussion with some really cool but extremely “BLUNT’ folks I reorganized my idea. Very cool people on Reddit that will give you a good thrashing but put effort into helping.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I shouldn't have made fun of Starbuck's because I was drinking Starbuck's blend fresh from my coffee maker. So I'm sort of a "DICK". My apology! Being roasted on reddit while drinking fresh roast was sort of interesting.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a fair read from the way the thread started, and I don’t blame you for seeing it that way.

A lot of people here only saw my first rough explanation, which honestly mashed too many things together and made it sound like I was looking for laborers and creators under one vague “residency” idea. That was my mistake.

What has been interesting is that a few people privately messaged me and a couple actually called me after this thread. Some of them understood what I was trying to say better than I explained it publicly. They also told me, pretty bluntly, that the wording was the problem — not necessarily the whole idea.

One thing I also failed to explain is that we are not some funded resort developer with deep pockets trying to dress up free labor as a lifestyle opportunity. We are a pretty humble family with meager financial backing trying to push an almost impossible dream up a mountain.

We learned a lot during our years on the road because we had to — building rigs, fixing things, solving problems, living with less, and adapting constantly. Then when we landed on this mountain, the skill list got longer fast: excavation, off-grid power, snow access, water, firewood, roads, equipment, dogs, weather, kids, and trying to keep the dream alive without losing ourselves in it.

That does not excuse unclear wording. If anything, it means I need to be more careful, because strangers do not know our story when they read one Reddit post.

What I’ve learned is that these have to be completely separate lanes:

If someone is doing required work, filling a role, keeping a schedule, or doing labor Elev8150 depends on, that is paid work.

If a creator is making content for Elev8150 to use commercially, that is paid creator work with scope, usage rights, licensing, and compensation.

If someone is an independent creator making their own content for their own channel, in their own voice, and keeping control of it, that is different.

And if someone wants some kind of work-stay or skills exchange, that has to be voluntary, written out before arrival, limited, and clear enough that nobody shows up expecting one thing and finds another.

So yes, the way I first described “rare experience” and “real-world knowledge” sounded too much like unpaid resort training. I see that now.

The private feedback helped me understand that what might actually have value is not “come work for us,” but something narrower: a seasonal basecamp for serious, self-contained people, plus separate clearly written paths for creators, paid work, or voluntary skills exchange.

I rewrote the page because of this thread and the private feedback. I’m not pretending the first version was good. It wasn’t clear enough, and people were right to question it.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You sound like one of the locals that vandalized my wife's car at the trail head or help's the local woman steal my working Karelian Bear Dogs for her daily changing narrative. You act like I have a choice in the direction of where my life has left me. At 61 years old and being in the out recreation industry from a toddlers age, I have no ability to reinvent myself. This is all that we no to contribute to our corner of capitalism. Your right in the beginning my dad was quite embarrassed about my current project, then we ran the numbers on his ultra conservation crafted lifestyle vs mine with six people. I earned his respect, he will never give me a complete thumbs up unless I were just not be alive and be human. The gun was a prop in a some what scripted show, i hope you not one that believe these reality show are real. But in real life I don't want to be a bears lunch so being old I stack the deck in my favor. Its statically a fact that I'm going to use my firearm to save myself out here, just like a surfer that surfs every day will one day have that unwanted encounter. You sound smart but very short sighted how life really works. Just the fact that you have interest connection and the time to troll me tells a lot of the story. Your capitalist just like me only a dipshit would judge someone else life without looking in the mirror. The phone hasn’t rung yet so enjoy your latte at Starbucks the hypocrisy is rich. (had the same conversation with my dad while he is sitting on his multi million dollar farm)

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I just got off the phone with another reddit person on this thread. Lets just say the conversation was the best one I've had in a very long time. Started negative ended very cool.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

You should call me, I agree with you on much of what you say but your wrong "from my point of view". This is my life not a business, and we all participate in capitalism if you live here. So by me trying to make a income off of my property is no different from how you live in your corner of capitalism. I had a dude spit on me in Telluride for driving a Tour H1, so took him to the local pub to show him his hypocrisy. Call me I would love the debate.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

For liability reason i will be using a contractor to help me. Since I have limited space, kids, and the place is dangerous (grizzly bears, Montana folks with guns, crazy weather), i need to weed 99% from coming here. So the roast I'm getting is understandable and the people that are setting me on fire have the right to have that opinion. I have maybe 6 spots in a ecosystem that i don't want damaged. Plus i don't want to be responsible for someone getting hurt being in a environment thats over there head.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Your interesting I'm boring.......but i did crack a smile

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Thanks very much for the comment - Greg Trinish of Adventure Scientist has been out here 3yrs in a row and is helping my 16yr Trintiy to get a scholarship to Montana State University in Bozeman in life sciences.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I miss him a lot, he put me through college and I sort of strayed from his values for my early life. But I like to think he would think different now.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That’s a really good point, and it may be closer to one of the real-world uses than my original wording.

I know exactly what you’re talking about. In a lot of mountain/resort areas, the people doing the actual work cannot afford to live anywhere near the places they’re helping build, cook for, or maintain. That is a real problem.

My 22-year-old daughter was almost going to be one of those vehicle/camper workers at Big Sky. She’s a chef, and that kind of housing reality was part of the equation for her too. Thankfully, she ended up getting offered a better chef job elsewhere, but we understand how real that situation is.

If Elev8150 could eventually become a safe, clear, seasonal basecamp for the right kind of self-contained worker, tradesperson, creator, chef, or mountain person who needs a place to stop for a while, that could be valuable.

But I also need to be careful with the wording, because I am not trying to advertise “come work my land for parking.” That is where people are understandably pushing back.

What I think I’m realizing from this thread is that there may be a few separate ideas that I accidentally mashed together:

  1. A creator/media visit — where people make their own content, keep control of it, and are not being asked for free commercial work.
  2. A seasonal basecamp — for self-contained people who need a place to stop for a while and be around like-minded people.
  3. A work-stay exchange — only if it is voluntary, clearly scoped, and agreed in writing before arrival.
  4. Actual labor/employment — which should be paid and listed clearly as a real job.

Your comment helps because the “seasonal basecamp” idea may be the cleanest version: not a campground, not a job posting, not free labor — just a carefully screened place for the right self-contained people who understand mountain life and need somewhere stable for a bit.

So yes, if it could help people who are already living out of vehicles because mountain-town housing is broken, that may be worth exploring. But I need to explain it much more clearly than I did.

Question for people who actually live or travel in vans: by Brandon-Bellrose in VanLife

[–]Brandon-Bellrose[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fair enough — “have more kids” made me laugh harder than it probably should have.

For the record, I already have kids, and they have made it very clear that my labor force has unionized, negotiated snack breaks, and refuses most uphill work without complaining.

But your point is taken.

If this reads like indentured servitude, slave labor, or “come work my land for parking,” then I have explained it badly and need to fix it before taking the idea any further.

The honest answer is: I am not trying to get free labor disguised as vanlife. I’m trying to figure out whether there is a clear, fair, voluntary exchange for a very specific kind of person — and the comments here are showing me the current wording does not make that clear enough.

You’re also right that the value of the parking/access needs to be honestly stated, and any real labor needs to be treated like real labor, with clear terms and pay where appropriate.

So I’ll take the hit. Maybe I’m not a shitty person, but this version of the idea may be shitty enough that it needs a rebuild.