Timberline is clearly going.
It has a long ride time and is slow
it serves a bunch of natural trails that almost never open
what are some possible better upgrades you ask?
I have three.
1. replace Timberline with a t bar or platter starting above the top of bateau. cost: 0.5-1 million. quick and cheap summit access with little wind.
2. replace timberline with a jigback tram starting at the top of King Pine. Relatively cheap, probably 1.5-2.5 million, has quick snowfields access and lapping and could act as a signature lift. only con is it may be subject to small wind although there are no towers and only two cabins that could have open or closed windows
3. buy the willamette pass sixpack for 2.6 million and offer up the parts (excluding the bottom terminal) on king pine and all of timberline. this could decrese cost. install at the bottom of gondi on condo cross cut to summit. options to run as sixpack, chondola or gondola. if run as sixpack, cabins could be used on future sawduster pulse gondola
4. 1 and 2 together