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Saddleback Keeps its Focus on Family

March 25, 2009 - RANGELEY -- It's 7:30 a.m. on a Sunday, and instead of sleeping in or sipping coffee, we are riding the Rangeley Chair at Saddleback. Our canvas: 5 inches of fresh snow on Saddleback's 64 trails. Our companions: Saddleback's CEO and top staff and a handful of other early riser skiers.

This is "Ski with Management," open to any ticket purchaser or pass holder every Sunday at the Rangeley ski area, an hour before the lifts usually open.

This is one of many new ideas to come to the 1960 Saddleback ski area this season. Also, a brand new quad chair services the 4,120-foot summit, which previously was reached only if you survived the gauntlet ride on an antique T-bar.

Warren Cook is Saddleback's new CEO, and he takes a batch of early birds out for first tracks every Sunday morning along with mountain operation manager Jim Quimby and Chris Farmer, director of development.

Cook comes to Saddleback with a wealth of ski industry knowledge as former co-owner and president of Sugarloaf. He admits his "ski with management" philosophy got too big when offered at the Loaf.

"There is a lot of good buzz about Saddleback," Cook said. "The people coming here are happy, our staff is really happy and our numbers are up this season."

SKIING TERRAIN INCREASES

Saddleback's positive buzz started in 2003 when Bill and Irene Berry of Farmington bought the resort. In six years, Saddleback's terrain has increased by 46 percent, the resort has a new post-and-beam lodge, two new quads and new snowmaking and grooming equipment.

Rita Daggett of Litchfield is a veteran Saddleback customer.

"We have skied at Saddleback for 13 years," she said, "definitely seen them through some tough times when it was for sale and there were only a few trails open. It's so much better now; what they've done is great. The new summit quad is a much better ride."

Barbara DeServes of Hallowell, a Saddleback skier for 25 years, was among the last to ride the old T-bar last season before it was retired.

"It was like the end of an era," she said. "That T-bar made this place like Mad River Glen; ski it if you can. Only the worthy could get to the top. I am surprised by how much we don't miss it. The new quad is a remarkable ride; you can enjoy the scenery now."

There are plenty of Saddleback regulars who remember the lean years when the ski area was on the verge of closing altogether. Of course, my visit was during the Ski Patrol Reunion, so the tales were on tap at the Swig and Smelt, Saddleback's hopping aprs ski bar.

Randy Goodwin was Saddleback patrol director from 1986-'91

"I used to ski here on days when there were two or three people total, and we'd dream about all the changes we'd like to see," Goodwin said. "Now the Berry family is making those dreams happen."

AN AFFORDABLE RESORT

Saddleback's fishing-themed trails and affordable prices are luring new customers, too. Dale Biser of Augusta was skiing Saddleback for the first time.

"I usually ski Sunday River or the Loaf, but we came here today because of the $40 tickets. That's a (heck) of a deal, and it's beautiful here with the lake and the mountains," he said.

"It's a bargain at half the price of other big mountains," Josh Gamage of Rockport said. "I came to ride the new lift, and I am impressed by the really long runs here."

"You can pick a trail here," said Eddy Hashern of Springvale, "and be the only one all the way down. That doesn't happen at other resorts. It's quiet, there aren't lift lines, it's just Mainers. Saddleback feels almost private."

"Saddleback is primarily Mainers, families looking for an affordable place to take their kids," director of development Farmer said. "We want to preserve that going forward with responsible growth."

Saddleback has approved plans for real estate development and additional lifts, replacing the Rangeley double chair and adding a Magalloway Chair to the west as early as winter of 2010-11. "We are considering fixed grip chairlifts to preserve the downhill experience," Farmer said.

"What hasn't changed is the incredible family feel," Daggett said. "We love the smaller crowds versus other mountains. Saddleback feels like our own mountain; there aren't as many out-of-staters."

"The majority of our guests are Mainers. We are committed to keeping our prices affordable, and to keeping our development low density," said Cook. "We don't want Saddleback to become exclusive; we want it to be inclusive."

"If I dropped my gloves here, I know I'd find them at the lost and found. The service and the people here are just the best," said Hashern.

Consensus is in. There's a lot to like about Saddleback. New lifts and a beautiful lodge, with good old-fashioned prices and classic trail skiing.

What did I like about Saddleback? We skied Red Devil twice on a weekend powder morning, returning to find our own tracks, no others. We trekked out to Mule Skinner to ski soft natural snow on a tight, tree lined-pitch with stunning views of Rangeley Lake. We met people in the lodge and on the lift that became fast friends, asking how our run was, and how we liked our lunch – very homey. Of course, when I told them I would be writing about Saddleback, they begged me not to. They want to keep their Saddleback a secret.

If you have never skied Saddleback, $40 is all it takes. If you haven't been to Saddleback in a while, it's time to get back. Just don't tell them I sent you.

HEATHER BURKE, Portland Press Herald, March 19, 2009


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