Given the heat in Vegas, I decided I wanted to try staying on Mt. Charleston, 30 miles west of the strip. I tried over the July 4 weekend but had to cancel because of wildfires shutting down mountain. So I re-booked for Wednesday-Saturday, July 21-24.

Drove into town from Phoenix and stopped at Sunset Station in Henderson. Ate at the breakfast buffet and was decidedly unimpressed, even paying 1/2 points for age 50+ on Wednesdays until 6 pm. They have a regular 4-8 limit game in the mornings, so I expected and did find it going. Played a couple of hours and won a little. Game is very tame with mostly regulars (although there was 2 non-regulars including me in the 8 handed game). I enjoy the Sunset - I have come to know the dealers and drink service is good (just no real eye candy). Took off after couple of hours play and up to the Resort on Mt. Charleston around 1 pm. Check in was a breeze. You could feel the big difference in temperatures on the mountain (about 20 degrees cooler - low's in upper 50's and highs in mid 80's). Older hotel with no elevator, but I took a room on 3rd floor because they have a small balcony where you can sit outside. Would not call the place a "resort" but it was fine for me. My only complaint was in room safe did not work (apparently only recently installed and none of them were working). After dropping bag and stuff in room, I headed to Red Rock for some limit poker. There is usually games going here. Drink service is good and waitresses are usually attractive. Played 4-8 for a couple of hours and lost $100, so decided to stop and eat at cafe. Cafe was fine, paid with 1/2 points. Session 2 at 4-8 limit was much better and made up for earlier loss and a little extra. Played for about 5-6 hours and had fun. No hands of note that I can recall. Drove back to Mt. Charleston - felt great once hit resort where it was cool. Got a drink at hotel in the empty bar and went outside to savor the lovely night.

Thursday, got up and tried to run (jog a little/walk a little). Hope it was 7000 foot altitude, but struggled to make 3 plus miles. Enjoyed cool morning air and kicked around resort in the morning. Drove over to PF Changs for lunch. It was okay, but I prefer my local restaurant for Chinese food. On to Venetian around noon for more 4-8 limit poker. This is for me the top notch room. Love the V - cocktail service is great (fast, Nicole looked great) and even the masseuses looked hot. Played about 4 hours dropping $7 and then took break to eat at Nathans. Returned to V's poker room for more 4-8 limit. Dropped $100 over about 3 hours and decided to take a break. Walked around hoping would change outlook and more importantly my card Karma. went for third session of 4-8 limit and really sucked. Second best many pots, so dropped roughly $170 more. Finally called it a night around 1 am and drove back to the cool refuge. This evening with the big losses the drive back seemed really long.

Friday. Went hiking in the morning. Hiked to mary Jane Falls (about 3 miles total) which was a nice hike, steep to me but nice. Followed up with hike on Fletcher Canyon trail (about 2.5 total) which was not as impressive. Cooled off and then headed for the poker rooms. Stopped at olive Garden for salad and bread sticks lunch (I figure there are enough vegetables in the salad to allow me to skip them for most of the next week. Back to Red Rock around 2 pm with only 1 4-8 game going, so waited about 40 minutes before new game was started. Game was about an hour plus old when bad beat was hit at Santa Fe - player's share turned out to be $286 for all Stations hold-em players. Had a really fun table. Guy called "7" and a number of others. Lost about $70 before bad beat share paid off and I got hungry. Ate at Cabo in Red Rock. Had fajita and was not overly impressed, wasn't bad just not great. Returned for more 4-8 limit but dropped another $100. Table was not nearly as fun so called it an early night around midnight.

Saturday. Decided had enough in bankroll to stay an extra night. Booked room using rewards points at Comfort Inn next to Sunset Station. Futzed around in Mt Charleston until about 10 am and then headed off the cool mountain for good. Enjoyed the stay overall, but I think 3 nights is too long and having done it once I am not overly inclined to do it again. Drove over to Henderson and was able to check in at around 10:30 am. Dropped stuff off and decided to check out South Point's new room - saw a buy in bonus coupon in poker newspaper at Red Rock. They did not have a 4-8 game going so I bought into the 1/2 NL game. I am always somewhat reluctant at NL as I don't believe I can read players and am not that good at figuring out what they have. Not good traits for NL - while with limit the amount of the risk is small. Dropped my $200 buy in after about 2-3 hours of play. Went all in with last $65 with AJ suited and ran into pocket rockets. Flop and turn gave me an open ended straight draw using the J, but no salvation on the river. Room was nice - lots of room. Mostly locals. Would be willing to return. Stopped at Joe's Pizza by the outlet malls on LV Bld. Really like their slices. As heading back on a whim I decided to hit Green Valley Resort. No 4-8 game going, so signed up for 1/2 NL again. Sat at 2/4 game while waiting and lost $20. I know 2/4 is similar to 4/8 but I never seem comfortable at that low of limits. People just playing anything. They opened up a new 1/2 NL game and sat down with $180. I play pretty ABC at NL. Cards were hitting me. Had QhQs and raised to $12. Two callers. Flop JhJd9h. I bet $30 and 1 caller. Turn is lovely Qs and I bet $50, other player goes all in with Kh10h (made straight and flush draws). Obviously I call with winner and basically double up. Later I am in one of blinds (don't recall which) with Qs6s for an unraised pot going to flop with 5-6 players. Flop is Ks10s4s. I bet out (don't recall but think about $15) and only one caller (same guy from my QQ hand). Turn is like 6 or 7 red card. I bet $30 and other player goes all in for about $100 or so. I think and wonder if he has A high flush but call. He has K10 and river does not fill him up. Cash out with nice profit. Decide I need a daiquiri ice ice cream fix from Baskin Robbins. I go to one shop but they don't hav it. Luckily one near Sunset Station does and I get a double scoop cone. I feeling better about my poker and life after the ice cream. Go back to hotel, shower and then off to Sunset Station for 4/8 limit poker. Swipe and win ticket for free night at Sunset Station on Sun-Thur. Sit and play for 3-4 hours logging a $1 profit. Did get 4 Q's but Sunset (unlike GVR) has no high hand bonus jackpot. At GVR with 4 Q's I would have won $200 (that was jackpot earlier that day). At Sunset the hand helped qualify me for free roll, but I can't do free roll because it involves a second day to get any money and I am unavailable second day.

Sunday Decide still doing well enough if I invest $200 in NL and win at least $100 I will stay another night. Check out of hotel and try GVR first around 10:30 am. Only have tournament games going with no live cash games of any sort. Go over to the V and quickly get into 1/2 NL. Nice mix of players and generally fun table. After 2+ hours I am getting bored. I have Ah4h and call $2 and raise to 10 total with 4-5 others. Flop is Jh4c6c. I check and pre-flop raiser (who has shown he will gamble and can bluff) bets $30 and I am only caller. Mentally I put him on AQ and think this is just C-bet. I do wonder if he has AJ though. Turn is Kh. I have 4 to nut flush and think if opponent has even the AJ, he has to worry about K falling. I check and he bets $50. I have about $165 at this point. I push all in with thought that I have flush possible for outs and if he has Aq or AJ it will be difficult to call. But he is gambler and calls showing Ac9c. He has club flush draw and 2 9's, otherwise my 4's are good. River is a club and I am done for the day and the trip. Drive home wondering what could have been.