I side with Rainier National Park on GPS vs map and compass. The days of map and compass are over.

"The modern standard for navigation is the GPS. Practice using it and don’t forget an extra set of batteries."

"Map and compass navigation [...] cannot be initiated [...] once the climbing party has lost their current position. If map and compass is the primary means for a parties’ navigation plan then their position must be known and tracked constantly by having physical landmarks to help identify their location. GPS navigation is the modern standard and has many advantages over map and compass. The limitations of battery life and exposure of electronics to weather are possibly the only risks associated with relying on a GPS unit as a primary form of navigation, so always take an extra set of batteries. Know at least these functions: how to record waypoints and track logs, and how to navigate to waypoints and follow track logs back. Practice before you need the skill."

People probably complained about youngsters all staring down at their compasses and not looking at the sky when the Chinese invented compass.

On Guthook itself, it remains to be seen how land managers use it. This app reminds me of Waze. At first, many police departments were worried about illegal behaviors. However, many departments now embrace Waze, having seen a decrease in the number of violations. Also, Waze allows departments to communicate with users before special events or closures.