ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – The Club Alpin Suisse (CAS) ils working with Google in Zurich to take shots of the hiking paths that lead to CAS huts throughout the country, using Street View Trekker.

The Trekker is an 18-kilo backpack camera that takes 360 degree shots which will later be available for viewing on Google Maps.

The idea, says Google, is to help hikers plan their treks, but also to make the beauty of the Swiss Alps, as soon from footpaths in the mountains, accessible to everyone via a computer or smartphone.

The photos are taken by CAS members, initially in the Bernese and Valais Alps.

Google has previously used the Street View Trekker to shoot images in the Grand Canyon, for shots inside the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, and for images that explore the Galapagos Islands.