         
Dollie Ambassador Bill Simon (co-founder Cindy’s hubby) traveled far away to the other side of the world, to climb a few mountain peaks in Mongolia. We sent 20 dollies with him, hoping he would find some children who would appreciate them.  Bill flew from Los Angeles to South Korea, and from there to the capital of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar.  There he joined the two experienced guides and three friends from the U.S.  They stayed overnight in a hotel on Peace Street, and very early the next morning caught a flight to the small city of Uglii… located in the extreme north-west part of Mongolia.
From there they drove in a jeep for seven hours (on dirt roads!) to base camp at the foot of the Altai Mountain range. They spent the next six days making their climb, staying along the way at a total of three camps. Camels carried their load!  On the final night before the summit they pitched their tents on top of a glacier.  The next morning, wearing crampons and armed with ice-picks, they made their final climb to the very top, being “roped together” just in case someone tripped over (into!) a crevice!!!  After successfully reaching the summit, they turned around and and hiked straight down the mountain to the first base camp from which they had started six days earlier. The countryside they passed through was huge and vast. Every so often they would happen upon large herds of sheep, and a lone shepherd.  They also saw goats, camels, and wild horses.
About two miles before Bill reached the end, he came upon a solitary yurt (a nomad’s home). “A little girl poked her head out of the entrance. Right then I know this was my chance!!  I pulled out of my backpack the two dollies I had carried the entire climb and called to the little girl and her brother, and handed them the dollies.”
The climbing guide took a few photos of Bill, and said, “These photos were taken near White River (it’s an area, a region…not a town) in the Tavan Bogd range of the Altai Mountains in western Mongolia. The people living in this “yurt” live a few hours WALK from the nearest road, and then a few hours DRIVE to the nearest town…so remote.  The kids pictured here were ecstatic with Bill’s gift of dollies.  The mother is in the photo, but their father is most likely away at his job as a sheep herder or camel driver.”
  
Honestly I could not believe Bill took those two dollies along with him on the entire climb! That sets a new, higher, bar for future Dollie Ambassadors who want to prove their dedication!  In case you are wondering, he took the remaining 18 dollies the next day to children at an orphanage in Uglii. Mission Accomplished!
  