On our try to get to the Caveman shindig we spent some time flying with new found friends from Sidney, Neb. They showed this low lander the east side of the mountains via Cheyenne, Laramie, Steamboat Springs and Saratoga and back to Sidney. All of this, except Steamboat, was in winds over 20 gusting to over 30. But it really didn't feel the same. Why? I spent some time thinking about it. Choose below.
1. Shell shock from my first mountain flying experience.
2. Low oxygen levels from high altitudes affecting the low landers brain.
3. High density altitude air is just thinner and weighs less per cubic foot and so even though the wind speed is the same a 30 plus gust does not push the plane as hard as at low landers altitude of 1300 msl.
4. Make up a better reason and post it here.

Hi C and his wife stopped in for a visit last evening after an 8 hr drive from Sidney on their way by to visit family in Minnesota. Good company, I highly recommend them.

I'd go with shellshock.

I once flew across the White Mountains in western New Mexico and eastern Arizona in huge turbulence - 2000fpm up/down drafts, etc., with a huge headwind. After 4 hrs of that we finally got to Flagstaff and landed in 35kt wind gusting 50. That would usualy have scared me witless, but after what we'd been through I didn't even notice it!!

Steve Fossett ..... he noticed those winds.