The beat of a trail comes from the forest’s own pulse. You’re looking for patterns in the sound, the feel of the ground, the break in the canopy. If the steps are even and the bark gives a soft thud each time, the path is steady. When the rhythm becomes uneven—roots, stones, sudden hollows—you’re in a different beat, usually a warning. So listen, feel the ground, and match your pace to that cadence. If you step in sync, you’re riding the trail’s natural tempo. If you stumble, you’re out of rhythm and probably lost.