How is Hey 22 through the Ochoco mountain pass in Oregon?

I'm confused. First you worry about I84 heading west, with a longish 6% grade (max freeway) down to Pendleton. Then you say, oops, you are worried about the east bound trip with the climb. Now you are asking about an alternative west bound route?

Do you realize that after Bend you get to climb again to a Cascade pass, followed by a much longer drop to the Willamette Valley. And then another climb over the Coast Mtns?