A drone image captured by the family of a missing woman is prompting RCMP to take another look in a mountainous region.

Revelstoke RCMP Staff Sgt. Kurt Grabinsky said there is an active investigation currently and they hope to one day find the missing plane.

“The family released the drone pictures to us last week, I guess they have been reviewing the drone data for the last almost month and a half,” he said. “It is an open investigation, we search when we have new information or when an opportunity arises to get the RCMP helicopter back in the area."

Ashley Bourgeault and Dominic Neron were last seen taking off in their single engine Mooney aircraft from Penticton on Nov. 25. They were expected to land in Edmonton but never arrived.

A large search and rescue effort went underway for the Revelstoke area, but the two were never found, nor was their plane.

The family discovered what they believe is a clue in an image taken on Dec. 11 from the Cougar Mountain area, north east of Revelstoke. 

“We’ve been looking and looking and something just popped out to us,” said Carol Barnes, Bourgeault’s cousin.

The family believes the word “help” or “here” was written in the snow.

“We are not sure but… there is something that definitely looks like a propeller and it looks like wreckage under the tree,” Barnes said.

The photograph is of a remote location with densely forested areas and changing slopes.

“We had plans to have the helicopter fly the area and specifically those coordinates last Friday, however weather and time did not allow for that,” Grabinsky said.

They will search the area as soon as weather allows them to.

“We will be doing that again as soon as the weather allows for it as much of the area has low lying clouds in it and we do to right now,” he said.

RCMP said since the photo was taken they believe another three metres of snow has fallen on top.

“There is a likelihood in the spring we will a greater opportunity as the snow melts and the sun is out more often we will have a better opportunity to get into that area,” he said.

Grabinksy added he is hopeful they will be able to send hikers into the area come the spring.