After a busy 2020-21 winter season teaching avalanche courses, MMS founder Travis Tucker realized that while winter backcountry use was booming, access to avalanche education for motorized users was not. Travis had numerous students in his avalanche courses who had decided (or felt forced) to take their Level 1 Avalanche course on their skis or snowshoes simply because there wasn’t an easily accessible motorized option* for them to do so on their sleds. AND THAT DIDN’T SEEM RIGHT.
While Avalanche Education has a lot of cross over for skiers, snowshoers, and snowmobilers… many things are going to be specific to the sport. For example, the way snowmobilers & snowbikers are going to approach an avalanche rescue or develop a trip plan for the day is going to be different than how skiers or snowshoers would.”
– Travis Tucker
Seeing a unique opportunity to serve, Travis decided to merge his own love of snowmobiling with his talent for teaching avalanche education and the result was Moto Mountain School being founded in the summer of 2021.
Travis Tucker – Founder / Lead Instructor
Travis grew up in Minnesota and was enamored with winter and all things snow from the very beginning. “I remember walking to school on the sidewalks and not being able to see the streets because there was so much snow. It was awesome.” His infatuation with snow prompted him to move to the mountains right after high school. Over the next 20 years and to date he has split his time between Colorado and Alaska. In 2004 Travis left his job as a snow cat operator and started working full-time as a mountain guide and avalanche instructor. He has since logged countless days braaaping, mountaineering, splitboarding, and climbing in Colorado, Alaska, Argentina, Europe, and Africa. In 2014 Travis started working in guide service management and has been working as both a guide and in operations to date.
Qualifications
- Avalanche Pro-2 (highest level of avalanche certification available in the U.S.)
- Wilderness Emergency Medical Technician (AK / NOLS)
- Course Leader – American Institute for Avalanche Research & Education (AIARE)
- Professional Member – American Avalanche Association (A3)
- Ap Splitboard, Alpine, & Rock Climbing Guide – American Mountain Guide Association (AMGA)
- AA Outdoor Recreation Leadership – Colorado Mountain College
- BA International Business – Fort Lewis College
*Other Providers in Colorado
It’s important to note that Moto Mountain School is not the first organization to offer mechanized avalanche education in Colorado. Check out the other reputable avalanche schools in Colorado below. Moto Mountain School is simply a new option in the pursuit to expand access to snowmobile and timber sled specific avalanche education in Central Colorado.