The French Alps offer a variety of alternative winter activities beyond skiing and snowboarding, including ice diving in Val Thorens, skijoring in Ancelle, speedriding in Val d'Isère, llama sledding in Briançon, snowkiting in Champsaur, bobsleigh in La Plagne, snowshoeing in Megève, husky sledding in Chamonix, and winter mountaineering in Écrins. These activities cater to different levels of adventure and provide unique ways to experience the region during the winter season.

The article provides tips for zero-waste hiking, emphasizing preparation, choosing sustainable food sources, and using reusable containers. It suggests planning meals with non-perishable, lightweight, and nutritious foods, and highlights the importance of proper waste disposal and foraging with knowledge. The piece recommends resources like Eco Thrifty Living for locating zero-waste stores and John Wright's 'The Forager's Calendar' for UK hikers. It also suggests durable products like Hydro Flask and Nalgene bottles, and natural alternatives for toiletries available at Holland and Barrett.

The article reviews various women's base layers suitable for cold weather and outdoor activities. It provides detailed assessments of each product's weight, material, and performance features such as moisture-wicking, temperature regulation, and design elements like thumb loops and ventilation. The review highlights the Páramo Women’s Grid Technic as the best buy, noting its lightweight and effective temperature regulation. Other products from brands like BAM, Finisterre, Howies, Megmeister, Artilect, Jack Wolfskin, Smartwool, and Mammut are also evaluated for their performance in different conditions, with a focus on their suitability for activities like hiking, cycling, and snow sports.

France offers over 60,000 kilometers of hiking trails, including the challenging GR 20 in Corsica, the scenic Cirque de Saint-Même in Chartreuse, and the rugged GR 54 in Écrins National Park. The coastal GR 34 in Brittany, the vineyard-rich Juliénas Loop in Beaujolais, and the diverse trails in Jura Regional Park provide varied hiking experiences. The Cirque de Gavarnie in the Pyrénées, the limestone cliffs of Les Calanques de Cassis, the Tour du Mont Pourri in Vanoise National Park, and Le Moucherotte in Vercors Regional Park are other notable trails. The article highlights the unique features of each trail, including the potential for wildlife encounters, the availability of refuges, and the need for proper equipment and planning.

Paris faces multiple challenges ahead of the 2024 Olympic Games, including a bed bug infestation, strikes by bin collectors and SNCF workers, a rat problem, farmer protests, climate protests, and a housing crisis exacerbated by landlords evicting tenants to rent out properties at inflated prices. The city's homeless population is growing, and there are concerns about the transport system's ability to handle the influx of visitors, with Metro upgrades causing disruptions and ticket prices set to double. Efforts to clean up Paris's image include hotels hiring sniffer dogs to detect bed bugs and police addressing crack cocaine dealing, but there is a risk that the Olympics could damage Paris's reputation further.

Paris faces multiple challenges as it prepares for the 2024 Olympic Games, including a bed bug infestation, strikes by bin collectors and SNCF workers, a rat problem, farmer protests, climate protests, and a housing crisis exacerbated by landlords evicting tenants to inflate rental prices. The city's high cost of living and homelessness are also concerns, with 44% of France's homeless population in Paris. The French government's advice to work from home during the Olympics to ease transport strain and the potential doubling of Metro ticket prices highlight the city's inadequate infrastructure. With recent riots and discontent among various groups, there's a risk that the Olympics could tarnish Paris's reputation rather than enhance it.

La Mère Brazier, established in 1921 and once awarded six Michelin stars, currently holds two and is a cornerstone of Lyon's gastronomy. The restaurant's multi-course menus pay homage to the city's culinary heritage, featuring dishes such as cervelle de canut, artichokes with foie gras, and a protected breed of marbled chicken cooked in a nutty yellow wine.

The article provides a detailed guide on how to organize a trek along the Transcaucasian Trail, which spans 1500 km through Georgia and Armenia, with an extension to Azerbaijan planned. The author shares personal experiences and tips for trekking the Armenian section, emphasizing the need for preparation, including downloading maps and GPS files, carrying sufficient water, and being self-sufficient with food and camping gear. The article also highlights the importance of choosing the right time of year, the warmth of Armenian hospitality, and the mental challenges of the trek.

The author discusses her experiences with hitchhiking solo as a woman, emphasizing the practicality, cost-effectiveness, social benefits, and environmental friendliness of hitchhiking. She shares safety tips such as planning the starting spot, dressing appropriately, making a sign, and always informing someone about travel plans. The author acknowledges the risks involved but provides strategies to minimize them, such as trusting one's gut and avoiding hitchhiking in the dark. For those not ready to hitchhike, she suggests carpooling sites like Blablacar, Share Your Ride, and Waze Carpool as alternatives.

The article lists eight essential gadgets for festival-goers, including earplugs, a handheld fan, a portable Bluetooth speaker, light-up shoes, a solar-powered battery pack, a portable shower and sink, a portable espresso machine, and a mesh network device for communication. It also recommends the Tent Finder app for locating one's tent. These products are suggested to enhance the festival experience by addressing common challenges such as noise, heat, device charging, hygiene, and communication.

The author of the article shares a personal narrative about achieving their childhood dream of becoming a published writer. They recount moving to Lyon, France, with the goal of writing about travel and outdoor adventures, including a significant solo hike along the Armenian Transcaucasian Trail. The author humorously mentions unfulfilled 'dream jobs' but also highlights their accomplishments in the field of travel writing. These include receiving a Silver Award for Young Writer of the Year 2023 by AITO, being highly commended for a Specialist Travel Feature, and being shortlisted for other awards. They also announce the upcoming publication of their first guidebook, 'Paddling France,' with Bradt Guides, set to be published in March 2024.

Trekking poles are essential for reducing stress on legs and knees during backcountry adventures. They are useful for balance, especially on steep descents, river crossings, or unstable terrain. Poles should be adjustable to the hiker's height, made from durable materials like aluminum or lightweight carbon fiber, and come with grips that wick moisture. The article reviews nine trekking poles, highlighting their features, materials, and suitability for different hiking conditions. Brands like Black Diamond, Leki, and Decathlon are recommended for their quality and value, with specific models suited for various hiker preferences and terrains.

In Beaujolais, France, wine is not only a drink but a staple ingredient in local cuisine. Restaurants like La Maison des Beaujolais offer wine-themed menus featuring dishes such as veal sweetbread mille-feuille and pike in Fleurie wine. Local products like Tomme du Beaujolais cheese, covered in grape skins, and saucisson au gène, a sausage also rolled in grape skins, showcase the region's tradition of using every part of the grape harvest. Sustainable winegrower Aurélien Burgaud emphasizes the importance of minimizing waste by incorporating oxidized wine into food. The region's culinary practices reflect a deep connection between the local produce and gastronomy.

The review discusses the role of STAT3 signaling in breast cancer, highlighting its activation by IL-6 and IL-11 cytokines and its contribution to cancer progression, metastasis, and immune evasion. The authors examine pre-clinical studies and clinical trials targeting STAT3 signaling, including the use of small molecule inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. They suggest that targeting the IL-6/IL-11/STAT3 axis could be a promising therapeutic strategy, particularly for triple-negative breast cancer, and call for further research to explore its clinical benefits.