how much would you recommend saving? sorry for all the questions, i figure if im heading over there i might as well try and make the most of what's on offer, i think Breck sounds like it will be the winner.Didn't work at all. We lived off our savings during that period (which we obviously planned for!). Its a great lifestyle choice. We saved heaps of cash by eating lunch at home after riding. Food "on the mountain" is hideously pricey.
We would get there for first lifts and ride until around 1-2pm. Given we were there for the season we didn't need to ride until "last lifts" - In fact I think I only rode to last lifts (around 4:30pm) once - and that was because I had a mate who was there for a short period and wanted to ski as much as possible.
Didn't ride everyday. We would usually have Saturday off, just so we wouldn't have to fight the weekend crowds. Of course if it dumped 8 inches on Friday night we would ride for a few hours on Saturday
When you are there for the season you can just pick and choose when you want to ride - I reckon my wife took every 3rd day off. On those "off days", we would go hiking, go to the gym, etc.
One thing we enjoyed doing was getting up super early and hiking up the mountain before the lifts started. Get to the top, strap in and get first tracks. Its nice to see the looks on peoples faces who are on the chairlifts thinking they are going to get first tracks
In the end I think I rode just over 100 days that season. Certainly one to remember!
We had to get some extended tourist visa as we were there for >3 months. I think it was valid for 12 months but you could get one for 5 years if you wanted to. Of course, given you have a US passport that doesn't really apply to you (lucky thing!)
as for steep terrain, I'm more of a park rat anyways but given that you can get the epic pass i think that would be the best outcome to change it up a bit