I have been pondering this question for awhile and decided to start small. Trail intersections are a great opportunity to go off course. There is one near here where the sign that was made in the 30's fell down and it is pointed the wrong direction. To make matters worse, the trail names changed. The Squirrel Creek trail on the map is not the same one on the sign. To complicate matters further, there is another trail not on the map that heads north from the intersection.

Without a topographical map and a compass at this intersection, it would be very difficult to choose the right trail.

Once past the intersection, it helps to have a compass and the map to make sure the trail you are on is going the right direction.