After all was said and done yesterday, I ended up going with the Rocky Mountain Slayer 7.0. It came down to either it or the Specialized Stumpjumper 120 Pro, and I went with the frame geometry of the Slayer and the fact that it (the frame) is at least made in North America (Canada). They both have exactly the same component set aside from crank, but the Race Face was lighter and stronger in all tests, so again the RM won out.

I am supposed to ride City Creek in Salt Lake today, but with an increasingly problematic sinus headache, I might bail and do something a little flatter and shorter for my first run out.

Thanks to those who offered suggestions.