You know what makes uphills easier? Road bikes.
I used to have the MTB above, but warrantied the frame since the rear dropouts were too wide, then got this instead. KC weather is the ultimate MTB-blue-ball-inducing-climate. We have awesome trails everywhere, but it's usually too wet, 1,000 degrees, or something else is in the way. We have 200+ days of sunshine every year, yet only 6 good riding days.
Thus my obsession with road and cross bikes. I'll get a 29'er soon enough.