Title says it all. Some are speculating that gas may hit $250 a barrel (OUCH!) and that $5.00 gas by Memorial Day may be a reality. I posted this question over at Cloudy Nights back in January when the warning bells were starting to go off (still think this is a ploy by the Oil Companies and Speculators to drive up profits) but I would like a more local opinion. So I ask, if gas is between $4.00 to $5.00 a gallon will it change how often you drive to a dark site to observe? I know that SPOC is a good ways out for some of us and will that gas price impact the amount of times you drive out to perform outreach there or elsewhere? I know for me I will still make several trips up to Wolf Creek this summer but what will change is that I will drive up and camp over and get in two nights of observing in. I'll still hit Rush Valley as I have a couple of new spots that I really like and are up a little higher. Lakeside I'll still hit also. I still intend to hit Great Basin at least twice but if gas goes up over $4.00 I may not get that third visit in. Outreach, I plan to hit SPOC once a month this summer so that won't change, but I may hit a Harmon's more as those locations are usually closer. So gas will and will not impact my observing at a dark sites and at outreach. What could also change is instead of driving the Pathfinder I may drive the Altima out to SPOC and to other locations. Then again, it also depends what life throws my way over the next six months. -- Jay Eads