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Steamboat Springs — With the ski season just days away, the Steamboat Ski Area remains the property of American Skiing Company.

ASC announced during the summer that it was marketing the ski area to potential buyers.

There was speculation that a deal would be done in time for the new owner to take over before the 2006-07 ski season, but that now seems unlikely.

"We're not able to release details on the process," said Andy Wirth, vice president of sales and marketing. "The process continues, and there is nothing but a focus by our team on opening the mountain."

The ski area opens Wednesday for Scholarship Day, a tradition that dates back to 1991. Lift tickets on opening day will cost $15, with proceeds benefiting the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. Season passes can be used beginning Thursday.

Ski Corp. is reporting a 33-inch base at the summit of Mount Werner, but it is too early to know which trails will be open.

Early this week, "we will have a better idea of what terrain and lifts will be open on Scholarship Day," said Doug Allen, vice president of mountain operations, in a press release.

Temperatures are forecast to be in the mid- to upper 40s.

The Steamboat Ski Area is one of 26 resorts that belong to the Colorado Ski Country USA trade organization. Colorado Ski Country USA spokesman Nick Bohnenkamp said 19 of those resorts will be open by Thanksgiving, and resorts throughout the state are reporting higher pre-season lift ticket sales and vacation package bookings.

"Things are looking good for mountain operations," Bohn-

enkamp said.

No announcement of a sale or contract is expected as Steamboat ramps up operations.

"A transaction of this kind couldn't possibly distract our team, as far as opening the mountain," Wirth said. "It's a critical time for our team."

Wirth said an announcement will be made when there is something to announce.

"More often than not, the rumor mill is wrong," Wirth said. "That has been the case for 15 years. It's fool's play to even keep track of the rumors."

Although the Ski Area is entertaining offers, Wirth thinks that will be the last thing on the minds of people vacationing in Steamboat.

"It means a lot to the second-home owners and the real estate community," Wirth said. "I don't think most people think about it that much."

Rather, Wirth thinks improvements on and off the mountain will stand out when people visit Steamboat this year, beginning when vacationers step off the plane at Yampa Valley Regional Airport.

The size of the airport is doubling as part of an $18 million multi-phase expansion project. The second phase is not expected to be completed until the end of January, at the earliest, but vital pieces, such as screening and passenger waiting areas, should be finished by the time the first ski season jets arrive Dec. 15.

Ski Corp. has estimated on-mountain improvements are worth more than $7 million and include a new Sunshine Express quad-chair lift.

The new lift will cut the ride time in half, to about 5.5 minutes.

Improvements have been made to the snowmaking system. Ski Corp. purchased a Zaugg superpipe cutter and the Broadway trail has been widened.

Two on-mountain food courts also were gutted and remodeled.

"People are going to be blown away with how the Thunderhead and Rendezvous food courts look," Wirth said.