A timely little piece over at the Art of Manliness, that covers how to read and use a topographic map. GPS is great, and it is a whole lot easier to than trying to triangulate a position where the terrain features are masked or minimal. In both the mountains of the PNW and the deserts of this world I have found triangulation pretty difficult unless you had a clear view of distinct terrain features. In those cases I would have loved a GPS.
For route planning and general orientation to an area a topo map is a much better tool.
Plus, batteries die, satellites crash, etc.