Yuka and I used to love backpacking into the Sierra Mountain Wilderness. There are some spectacular trails with scenery that is hard to describe and even good pictures don't quite capture the grandeur and peaceful beauty of it all.
But without good preparation and planning, things can go horribly wrong and that place of such serenity and beauty can be a terrifying place to be. So, among all the other preparations such as first aid, food, water and shelter, we always brought along a current topographical map and a good compass.