Not too terribly technical, but they take it out of you nonetheless. The key to success here is to vary your routine. Move around in the saddle and even stand up for short periods so that you make use of different muscles. Shifting your weight forward will exercise the quadriceps more, whereas moving rearward puts more demand on the hamstring, hip, and butt muscles. As for pedal revolutions, it becomes an issue of personal taste.
Some people like to sit and spin in low gears while others prefer standing on a higher gear.
Remember that standing is a more demanding and rigorous method of ascent. You may get to the top more quickly than the guy who is sitting and spinning a lower gear, but you'll have less reserve afterwards. Gauge your strength and endurance before making a decision. One decides to sprint for as long as she can and then limp in the rest of the way, hoping that she can keep her lead to the finish. The other decides to run a fast jog, maintaining constant speed through the entire mile.