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Rustic Charm, Wild Terrain, $40 lift tickets – Tempt Skiers to Saddleback

December 31, 2008 - RANGELEY — The moose skull atop the Jeep, the painting of the smelt holding a beer and the old sofas in the warming hut say it all.

This ski area is not known for teen night or wealthy weekend warriors up from Boston. Saddleback's profile is a bit grittier than that.

"It's called deep, steep and nasty," Saddleback Ski Patrol member Jeff Smith said of the mountain's glades. "It's nothing to have 6 to 7 feet of snow in the woods."

Saddleback has long drawn rugged skiers to its glades and alpine terrain atop a 4,120-foot peak, known as the East's largest advanced skiing complex.

But now a new chair lift and expanded trail network have made Saddleback's advanced terrain more accessible to more skiers. That's made it more attractive as a ski destination in New England, along with another important factor: It doesn't cost much. The top-priced lift ticket at Saddleback is still $40.

"It is one of two ski areas in Maine that has skiing above tree line – the other is Sugarloaf," said Greg Sweetser at SkiMaine, which tracks the ski industry. "And it has 2,000 vertical feet. That puts it among the big mountains."

Saddleback's new Kennebago chair lift service means 12 top-to-bottom advanced runs can be accessed by more skiers more often.

The two new black diamond trails are narrow – at 50 and 75 feet across, with runs of 2,500 feet. These two – Black Beauty and Frost Bite – were not open last week. With the nor'easter that hit Maine this week, Frost Bite is now.

That's part of Saddlback's wild charm: as much as 220 inches of natural snow on average each year.

"Every mountain has different terrain. This is a big mountain at a little mountain price. The mountain is huge, and you don't have to wait in line," said Joey Chrestien of Hebron, a season pass-holder at Sunday River and Sugarloaf. "At (bigger resorts), you have to bounce peaks to get a lift line with no wait."

The new lift is not fast, but Saddleback spokeswoman JoAnn Taylor said it serves its purpose of encouraging more skiers to ski the top.

Besides, Saddleback is not about high-speed lifts, high prices and glamorous facilities – it's about great ski terrain at a great price.

"The cost of the high-speed lift to that area was way more than we could afford to spend. And the ride is only six minutes. It's comfortable. It's a quiet ride," Taylor said. "The philosophy is to keep skiing affordable and to provide a high alpine experience, not make it a glitzy experience."

Inside the base lodge, Saddleback is as rustic and simple as a mountain house gets, with wall-to-wall pine, more windows than decor, and a massive stone fireplace as the most elegant feature.

But many who come here to ski or ride on $40 aren't looking for luxury. They've figured out how to dress warm and savor the scenic, if slow, lift ride.

"When you ski all day, you don't want to get thrown to the top. This gives you a chance to relax," said MaryEllen Moroney of Sandy Plantation.

A real-estate agent who sets her own hours, Moroney learned to ski four years ago after moving to Rangeley. Now she skis seven days a week – for several hours a day.

When frigid Rangeley Lake sends bitter wind across the face of Saddleback, Moroney is not fazed, nor are her ski pals. A 75-year-old ski buddy invented face masks made of fleece that are beefier than the basic ski mask.

"Now, we all make them," Moroney said.

This western Maine ski area that looks out on the sprawling chain of lakes may require a commonsense approach, but its trails are where it gets fancy.

With the uncertain economic climate, development on additional lift lines may slow at Saddleback, Taylor said.

However, more terrain will be added. And, there is one goal the ski area will hold fast to: "Our goal is to get all lift tickets to $40. To sustain that $40 ticket," Taylor said.

Saddleback has a longer commute from Portland – two and half hours – but more outback features than mountains that are closer.

"Early in the morning, we get a clear shot of Mount Washington. It's only 70 miles as the crow flies, but it looks like it is right in front of us. There is no higher peak between us," Smith said.

By DEIRDRE FLEMING, Staff Writer, Portland Pres Herald, December 25, 2008


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Regions: Rangeley


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