London:
A Dutch company has developed a new lightweight scooter that folds away into a rucksack to allow mountaineers to easily glide back down the hillside after climbing.
The company invented 'Bergmonch', an integrated rucksack and scooter, which allows you to easily climb down in either a standing or kneeling position.
It can be assembled from rucksack to scooter in just two minutes, the 'Daily Mail' reported.
The manufacturers claim the upright riding position and different sized wheels ensure perfect handling and safety as you wind your way down.
The 1,200 pounds scooter can then be re-packed in just two minutes into a 9kg rucksack which fits comfortably on your back.
The company hopes to appeal to the increasingly young groups of climbers and hikers, saying they have a trendy mode of transport for wheeling downhill which is also unobtrusive when climbing uphill.
They point to studies that show 67 per cent of all mountaineers suffer from knee and ankle problems because when walking downhill, our joints have to cope with several times the amount of our own weight.
Bergmonch, which means 'Mountain Monk', can be used on mountain tracks and paths, as well as smoother roads. It is perfectly capable of covering large distances effortlessly, manufacturer, KOGA, claims.
The makers hope their product will make Alpine tourism safer and more sustainable by reducing reliance on railways and toboggan runs to transport mountain bikes to the summits.