http://www.flashearth.com/

flash earth has higher resolution images in some places, much better quality for my area.

also, in google earth you can see archived images, look up your area "in the winter" and find trails and other areas of interest that wouldn't show in a summer time snapshot. you can find the denser mast tree areas by changing images.

a topo map helps a lot if you're in any hilly or mountainous areas. be sure to print those out, they can save you lots of unnecessary climbing, and they can set you up to nail him on the other side...