RANGELEY — On Saturday, Feb. 28, Saddleback Mountain will be hosting the first annual Saddleback Mountain Challenge. This event is a classic ski mountaineering race. Competitors will navigate a route that gains approximately 1,800 vertical feet, is over seven miles long, includes green, blue, black and double black terrain and encompasses the entire skiing boundary of Saddleback Mountain. This is a monster of a race that will resonate with the sturdy, experienced ski mountaineer.

Ski mountaineering is the earliest form of skiing. In the beginning of skiing there were no lifts to access alpine terrain. A few hardy souls would attach animal pelts to the bottom of their wooden skis to provide forward glide and backward grip. They would then climb to where they wished to ski, remove the "skins" and descend.

Today, those hardy souls are called ski mountaineers. The animal pelts have been replaced by synthetics, the leather boots with plastic, and the wooden skis with space-age materials. The idea, however, is the same. There is a special satisfaction in accessing ski terrain by your own effort and determination.

The Saddleback Mountain Challenge taps into that same sentiment. This promises to be a unique experience either as competition with other mountaineers or just for the accomplishment itself.

The first place finishers, in both the men's and women's division, will receive a 2009-2010 Saddleback Mountain Season's Pass. There will also be silver and bronze prizes. For all participants there is a commemorative t-shirt, spaghetti dinner and celebration in the fireplace room in Saddleback's beautiful post and beam lodge.

Registration for this event will be on Feb. 28, from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. No lift pass is required to enter the race, but there is a $25 registration fee. All competitors must have ski mountaineering equipment deemed appropriate by race officials. It is recommended that interested participants scout the route prior to the event, not the day of the event. Saddleback Mountain welcomes ski mountaineers, but asks that anyone climbing the mountain to check in with Mountain Operations.

A map of the route is available for viewing on the web at, www.saddlebackmaine.com or call 864-5671.