While I always carry paper maps and compass, they are rapidly becoming a backup. I can load sections of USGS 7.5 minute maps into my Garmin Montana 610. I navigated several cross country hikes in Death Valley last March with it. I marked several way points on each hike to insure that I was on the correct route. I always knew the distance and bearing to the next check point. The electronic compass pointed the way. I never needed the paper map or manual compass.
