Early on a Sunday morning in June, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Prof. Matthew Johnson and two Carleton graduate students hauled 700 pounds (more than 300 kilograms) of gear into the Ottawa International Airport.
Early on a Sunday morning in June, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Prof. Matthew Johnson and two Carleton graduate students hauled 700 pounds (more than 300 kilograms) of gear into the Ottawa International Airport. Eight large cases containing cameras, computers, wires and metal probes were pored over carefully by customs. Only empty gas cannisters gave officials pause.
“They always get held up,” says Johnson, “just because they look so suspicious.”
It was the first long day in a series of long days. The trio spent June 16 in transit: first flying to Toronto, then to Panama in Central America, then to Quito International Airport in the Andean mountains, almost 3,000 metres above sea level.
From the capital of Ecuador, the researchers then flew west to Coca and drove into the Amazon. As they drove through the jungle toward a base camp in Joya de los Sachas Canton, they passed graffiti on bus stops and soccer facilities which read: “Apaguen los mecheros.” Turn off the lighters. “Mecheros de la muerte.” Lighters of death.
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Image via Carleton University.
