You might want to check out Western Mountaineering or Feathered Friends, they have some very nice ultralight 3 season (and 4 season) down bags and will custom fill bags upon request.  I have an old WM iriquois 38deg down bag that is great.   and also a 5deg WM Antelope SMF bag for mild winter backpacking. 

I am fairly short myself at 5'5" which is great for sleeping bags as you can fit the lighter short models.

Mountain Hardware Phantom line are good too, I have a Phantom down jacket I use for winter backpacking... Most likely cheaper than the custom bag makers like WM/FF

Jay

You could use clear packing tape, but taking the tape off would be a problem unless it's made to be removed...

I did not notice any bad scratches in 1700 miles on the great divide on my steel ElMar but sooner or later, I would think it will eventually start to rub, much like the brake cables on the front fork crown..

Jay

I rode a 29er Salsa ElMar3 from Banff to CO this year. I'm 5'5" and found the larger wheel fine for the ride. It is a little taller than my other 26" wheeled mtbs so I am riding a bit higher than what I would be used to but not terribly so.  My El Mariachi has a Manitou front suspension fork on it with lock out and I found it nice to have on some of the washboard sections. It's not the greatest but it does damp some of the washboards out. 

Jay

Ovando, MT,  is kind of a must see and a very nice stop... Whitefish, MT has a nice bike shop to resupply (Glacier Cyclery), so does Butte, MT (The Outdoorsman). 

Brush Mtn Lodge in CO is a definite stop for food and possibly lodging. 

So many unique places, it kind of depends on what you like, history, geology, or just nice scenery, it has it all!

Jay

You'll see some big and ornately decorated trail history on the Oregon trail (and the Lander cutoff) on the route.   Also you can stop by the visitor center and watch a really interesting 15() minute video of the history and if you have more time, donate $ to go take the tour of the old buildings. I agree, South Pass City is an interesting stop on the Great Divide.   

So is Atlantic City too but that is a bit more populated than SP City.   

Jay