For the gearheads out there:

I ride a 2018 Salsa Fargo with 2.5" Teravail Ehline dual compound tires, and I will once again endorse this setup for bikepacking trips like this. The 2.5" Ehllines roll fast on highway, keep me aloft in sand, and take an absolute beating when ploughing through rocks on a fully loaded bike. The tires I used on this trip had already been put through the ringer in southern Arizona the past 18 months, where sharp rocks and cactus spines destroy most tires on a daily basis. Oh, and they seal tubeless with just a floor pump. :)

So if you're debating your own setup, do yourself a favor and skip all the nonsense tire debate on Reddit and get yourself a pair. Bless you Teravail for the dependable tires.