Speaking of overblown, I was literally "overblown" while traversing the White Mountains 13,000 feet (the California White Mountain, a 14'er). The largest recorded gust that day at the weather station on the top of White Mountain was 100 mph! Average wind speed for my hiking hours was 45 mph, average "gusts" 60 mph. In my tent, as the rain started, I was very happy to have one of those $300 mountaineering tents! Quite a few of us out west here backpack extensively above timber or without timber. And the dirty little secret - it DOES rain in the Sierra - downpours too! Occasionally snows heavily in September - like the Donner Party fiasco. And the Wind River Range? - now there is an appropriately named range. And the desert is not very kind either. No trees. Windy. Scorpions. Ugh!

I am not prone to lecture other campers on their habits or equipment. That is a bit out of line. I just watch their tube tent blow away and smile.