I guess that is the same in both Arizona and Alaska. I think in over twenty years in Arizona, I only pulled out my compass twice, both times in stormy conditions and thick fog, but without it I would still be wandering around....

With a GPS these days, it is nice to look and see that you have gained half your altitude or whatever, especially if you are in the midst of a nice thick forest with no long views, and that you have already traveled 8.32 miles of the 13.2 you need to cover. Not vital to know, usually, but still fun.