nickward wrote:Same reason you'd take a map on the Overland Track

It's not that I think we're likely to lose the track (although stranger things have happened) but planning-wise, it does make it easier to know where it is. Doing the full Arthurs (Western and Eastern) traverse, so I'd like to be as prepared as possible.
I think that if you feel you need a GPS with a loaded route to follow to do the trip - then that is not being well prepared at all. Much better to be prepared by having adequate skills to be able to do your own navigation once you are there. As trips go - navigations is pretty trivial compared to the other difficulties - the weather, the scrambling with large packs, being stormbound and knowing when to stay and when to go, being able to work out escape routes if you have to flee off the tops etc etc...
The Arthurs is one place that you would not navigate using a GPS track log. Following a track log in thick mist - you are likely to walk off a cliff or have some other mishap. Most of the navigation needed is visual - you need to look for and see the route, then follow it.
Also - if you do take paper maps (which I would recommend, even if you carry a GPS with a loaded topo map) - then you really only need 3 or 4 sheets. You don't need maps for the access tracks and the roads.
Dave