Here's your wind test before taking it up high: head to Death Valley between late Feb and early April when the annual spring desert winds are howling. Pitch in Furnace Creek at Texas Springs or Stovepipe Wells campgrounds. Stay 3-4 days. If your tent is still there and/or standing at the end of that time, it's likely good enough for the Sierra.
And no, an inexpensive Wal-Mart tent won't cut it if things get really breezy. You don't need a $500 tent, but you do need a sturdy one with high-quality poles. I've used REI, Nemo, and Black Diamond tents in high Calif winds, and they've all stood up well. I've also seen lower quality tents used by others collapse, as well as poorly-anchored high-quality tents fly like kites. Also, one in particular stayed anchored but the zippered door ripped loose (wazzu?).
Then again, you can always deal with it like some of our Aussie brethren and just throw your bag down on the ground and dare the wind to blow you away (or even wake you) . . .
