I am going to be reloading my system with a new OS. Is it possible to preserve my saved game files? I have done some looking around in the game's file directories, and I can't seem to find them. Where are they, and is there any more trick to it than just backing them up and loading them onto HDD after new OS is in?

For Windows 7, it's at:
C:\Users\(your name here)\Documents\My Games\Skyrim\Saves

While I don't know where edit: ^ where he said

It is most certainly possible.

Keep looking.

:-)