The new lift gives access to Crystal's North Country area and nearly doubles the resort's serviced terrain. Staff are hoping it will help spread out the growing crowds, with its capacity to hoist nearly 20,000 people per hour up the hill. "It's about the skiing," Crystal Mountain General Manager John Kircher said Monday. "We have a job to do handling the crowds here, but we all see how fast the snow gets tracked out. The new lift in the North Country is designed to provide access but keep the snow quality higher."