Stay in the drops as much as possible, crank along at a reasonable effort.

On the Machka vs Merlin discussion- one is headwind and tailwind, one is headwind and less headwind- not the same thing.

Strongest winds I've ever been in were hiking up Mt. Lady Washington on New Year's Day a number of years back. What worked best there was to just stop and brace with ski poles when the wind hit, then move when it let up. Wind was alternating directions, with sort of lulls in between.