Google Earth is just the best; we used it to scope out potential kayak routes when there were complicated sloughs/deltas to navigate (great for aborting trips in the comfort of the home)
In reading your report, I can see how spoiled I have been in my intro to the Whitney Zone, as I have had the extreme luxury of following along with the likes of Doug, Sr., Bob R., Laura, & Steve C.
Based on my own solo extra-navigational "wanderings", I am sure that I would have a similar tale to tell.
