>>1124086Rigid steel 29er. Put altbars on it so you have a comfortable hand position without paying out the ass for hydro disc compatibility, aka drop bars. Get some fast shallow tread tires, rolling resistance doesn't make as much difference as you think, neither does weight once you get it rolling.
I have both a CX style bike and a rigid 29er and the latter is my favorite [reasonable]all-terrain wandering machine. The more upright position and comfy fat tires are great for lazily pedaling along on everything that isn't straight up overgrown wilderness or mountain walls, without pumping your energy into bobbing the frame up and down with every pedal stroke like on a hardtail.
