Does anyone have experience with SPOT beacons in South America, specifically in the Aconcagua area? I know their website claims decent coverage ...

It worked fine down in that area for me last January. The only issue I have with them is how they erase your data if you don't retrieve it from their site within 3 weeks or so of it being recorded. By the time we got back from down there, I had already lost most of my data from the trip.

(note: I haven't used the device since then, so I do not know if this data retention practice is still in place. Frankly it is a significant thumbs down for this device if so.)

Other than that, the tracking function worked well with the device attached to the top of my backpack. Folks at home were able to watch our progress up the mountain quite fine.

Excellent! Thank you for the info.

[The following is to be read in the non-asshole tone in which it was written]

Assuming you're experienced on big peaks - If you're looking to keep others informed of your progress, then I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Assuming you are not experienced - Apart from whatever climbers might be in the vicinity and willing to undertake a rescue, it takes the Mendoza Police Mountain Rescue Team quite a while to make it out there. Despite what many over-opinionated and under-experienced armchair types would have you believe, Aconcagua by any route is a mountain to be respected. I've guided it over a dozen times.

pinscar wrote:If you're looking to keep others informed of your progress, then I don't see why it wouldn't work.

Thanks. This is the function that I hope it would fulfill.

Have fun; climb smart!

I used the SPOT at least once a day for three months last year in the Andes (Aco, Mercedario, Puna de Atacama) and all the messages I sent were delivered.
Sometimes it was pretty frustrating, when I had to wait for ten minutes on a windy summit until the message gets sent but besides that I never had any problems with it. One set of batteries lasted fine for all that period.