I'd recomend a good 5x5, or 4x5 bike. Anything more than that and it wont pedal well for $2K. Anything less and itd be easy to get in over your head. But i know poeple who live in boulder and they get along just fine with XC hardtails. Specialized makes great 4x4 and 5x5 bikes, kona has the dawg which would be a great bike for out there. Mael is from the North Shore and does everything, and i come from a strict XC background probably more comparable to your riding style.