You're, umm, making a mountain out of a molehill (terrible, I know). Seriously, if you have the gearing and ride regularly, it's not a big deal. Those of us who live in upper Manhattan have a wicked climb from sea level up to (or near) the highest natural point in Manhattan (something like 250ft in half a mile, variations depending on where you measure). I see all sorts of people either riding up the hard parts or walking part of it as necessary.