04 Denali XL dropped keys in lake down 4x4 road please help

[acelead]

Hi everyone,

I own a 2004 GMC Yukon Denali XL. Fantastic rig. It has safely transported my family all over the US over the last 3 years.

I just took it camping last week and I dropped my only set of keys in the lake....

At 7400 feet.....

3 hours from civilization.....

Parked down a 4x4 only accessible road......

The good news is it is in park and in a safe spot.

I had left the windows down partially so I was able to get a hook in and open the door (the alarm triggered so I disabled the battery).

I am now trying to figure out my best course of action.

Its location means a normal tow truck is highly unlikely to be able to safely get to it. The offroad tow options I looked at are going to cost a small fortune and are complicated by the fact that its locked in park.

I understand the sticky legality of attempting to start/move a vehicle with no key so to make it clear the registration, insurance etc are all clean and in my name.

Ideally, I would like to get it running enough so that I can get it home and work on it in my driveway instead of 3 hours from civilization with no cell signal.

So my questions are...

1) is there a way(s) to get it to start and drive so I can get it home?

2) If not, how do I put it into neutral so I can pull it out to the main road for the tow truck? I don't want to damage anything dragging it out.

I was able to get a friend to come to pick up my family and me so we are home but I obviously need to get the Denali out of there somehow.

Appreciate you all and thanks in advance!

 

[KY Laker]

I believe that you can remove the snap ring, connecting the transmission selector. Underneath the vehicle, driver's side. Save the bushing and e-clip. This will disengage the selector, and allow you to manually move into neutral.
Only set of keys? Expensive lesson learned.

 

[acelead]

Thanks KY, yes very expensive lesson learned....