Crystal isn't really 9% grade. It's 1600' up over 6.2 miles, which puts it close to 5% average, though there are parts that are steeper - say 7% or so.
The downside is that the road is pretty crappy. It's hard to find a smooth line going up, and coming down it will bump you all over the place.
I'm considering climbing up to the top of Chinook instead, though if the weather is as hot as I expect, I may "accidentally" forget to turn off the main route.