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Even with a GPS, you won't want to toss your map or compass any time soon. In fact, some companies state on their GPS units not to use the GPS as a primary source of navigation. Why? Two reasons: 

1. Technology fails
2. A GPS is not a compass and does not know which way north is. 

When you turn a GPS unit on, the only way it can guide you to a destination is if you have been there before and have the coordinates entered (in which case you still need a compass to follow the indicated bearing) or if you have a map and can establish the coordinates (Latitude / Longitude or UTM) and enter them so the GPS can again show the bearing needed to get there (which once again requires a compass). 

WHY A GPS IS GOOD
So why would you want a GPS then? 

It's an ideal navigational tool when landmarks and significant features are difficult to read (like in a forest), nonexistent (on a desert), or obscured completely (in a fog or at night). 

A GPS's ability to keep you on course (by estimating travel speed, sounding alarms when you are off course, and predicting how long it will take you to arrive at your destination) is certainly a valuable feature, as long as you're willing to burn battery power and keep the GPS out, on, and with a clear view of the sky above. 

If you can't determine where you are, just turn on the GPS and (unless you're in a deep canyon or thick forest), the GPS will establish a position fix allowing you to use the Latitude/Longitude indications to find your exact position on the map. Enter the coordinates of the destination desired, and the GPS will then calculate the compass bearing needed to get there, on a straight line of course. 

Again, this is where the compass and map become essential, and why a GPS can become dangerous in the hands of an inexperienced navigator. From Point A to Point B, a straight line indicated by the GPS might take you across a swamp or a canyon or through a man-made hazard. Without a map, you wouldn't know and could get yourself into real trouble. It must be remembered that without effective map and compass skills, a GPS cannot be used safely or properly. 

SUMMARY 
A topographic map, by itself, isn't much good if you can't point to where you are on it. Likewise, a compass in and of itself isn't all that helpful if you can't determine the type of terrain between here and there. Just the same, a GPS unit isn't worth much unless you can read the coordinates of your location and then find that place on the map. To navigate wilderness areas, you should get used to working from map to GPS and GPS to map (and use the compass as an additional safety measure). 

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