Nashbar has some steel mountain bike frames on sale for 44.95. They can be set up for touring. One option.

The carbon fiber wrap idea is a good one. If you are able to do this, you are in better shape than someone who is depending on finding a good welder, or any welder. You can do the repair yourself, wherever you are.

There is also the option of wrapping your frame in (epoxy-saturated) carbon fiber before you leave. It isn't that difficult to learn, and isn't that hard to do. You would then have a very strong frame.

Or, you could reinforce the frame in critical areas.

Or, you could be ready to have Nashbar ship you a frame if needed. They also have touring frames, road frames, cross frames, 853 MTB frames, aluminum MTB frames... http://www.nashbar.com/results.cfm?c...it=y&pagename=

You could also have a complete bike picked out (perhaps a Nashbar bike, or some other one), in case of problems. Then have it shipped to wherever you are, if you really need it.

(Or frame plus needed parts, using whatever components you can from your existing bike.)

That way you could try your bike out, and see what happens.

Also, gentle riding styles, including taking it easy on the fast and bumpy downhills, will go a long way toward making a bike last longer. It's often the accumulated high stresses over time that finally fatigue the metal beyond its limits.