Pika
I think down where you live, a map should be adequate without a compass. Territory like where you live is big and open with weird identifiable landscape. I also feel completely at home in the high sierra without a compass and generally without a map. BUT here in the Cascades the plant life is dense and the terrain is rolling with no identifiable landmarks unless you can see one of our mountain peaks.

If I was lost out here in the forest I would simply head south and I would cross the highway sooner or later and hitch home. I generally don't need a compass to know which way is south.

But I digress. I normally carry nothing so the GPS is sort of a backup to my wilderness skills. I have spent a lifetime paying attention to my surroundings and finding my way home like Daniel Boone would. Sometimes I have a might bit of problem getting the last tenth of a mile to my camp of truck.

Jim <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

I'm not saying there's anything wrong with carrying a map and compass and some places it just would be stupid not to, but they are not easy to use and to suggest that all beginners should have them sort of implies that they know how to use them. When Longhair and I got lost trying to get back to my truck, the map was absolutely worthless due to circumstances, limited visibility in fog, etc, BUT we were near the tree line and got good signals. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />