Area 41 covers Casper Mountain and the surrounding foothill country south of Casper, including the eastern Laramie Range margin and the country dropping down to the North Platte. Elevations run from about 5,000 feet on the river bottoms to 8,123 feet on top of Casper Mountain. The mountain itself is a forested ridge rising abruptly from the high plains—lodgepole pine, Douglas fir, and limber pine on the timbered slopes, with aspen pockets in the wetter draws and grassy parks on the gentler benches. The lower foothills carry mountain mahogany, juniper, and ponderosa, transitioning into sage prairie on the surrounding ranchland. The North Platte River runs through Casper and provides a cottonwood ribbon and reliable water. Casper Mountain itself is largely county park land (Casper Mountain Park, Beartrap Meadow), with small Bridger-Teton or Medicine Bow forest pieces and mostly private ranch surrounding. WY-251 climbs the mountain from the north; county and forest roads thread the foothills. Casper is the full-service town right at the mountain's foot—gas, hotels, real grocery, the Wyoming Medical Center if something goes wrong. Cell service is good on the mountain (line of sight to Casper) and in the foothills. Heavy local pressure during the rifle openers because the country is right next to a city of 60,000—the mountain gets a lot of weekend traffic. Mule deer, elk, and the occasional black bear inhabit the timber; antelope work the surrounding sage. Casper Mountain ices over fast—snow can shut WY-251 by mid-October.