winter day hike...this thread is referring to the AT in season...no you done NEED a map, the AT a hiking superhighway in a very thin veneer of "wilderness", but feel free free to carry one, its your pack.
unfortunately those most likely to need a map on the AT are the ones most likely not to know how to use one. i see it all the time with things like "carry a compass" but no idea how to use one at all. tools do a person no good whatsoever if they don't know how to use them.