Hiking Difficulty

This is a data field for Garmin watches that calculates your real time Shenandoah's Hiking Difficulty. The hike difficulty is based on current distance and elevation gained, and given as a score.

Based on the score, hikes may be categorized as:

• Easiest (0–49)
• Moderate (50–99)
• Moderately Strenuous (100–149)
• Strenuous (150–199)
• Very Strenuous (200–249)
• Challenging (250–499)
• Bomber (500+)

The calculated difficulty is written into activity and viewable with Garmin Connect as a hike difficulty and as a chart. This metric is handy when you compare your two hikes, challenge yourself or track your progress.

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How to Use

This app is a data field for Garmin devices. To see the hiking difficulty data in your Garmin Connect activities, you need to follow these steps:

1. Install the data field from the Connect IQ Store or through the Garmin Connect app
2. Add the data field to your activity's data screen - this is required to record the difficulty data during your activity
3. Complete your activity - the difficulty data will now be visible in Garmin Connect

Important: Simply installing the app is not enough. You must add the data field to your activity's data screen for live tracking. Only then will the final difficulty score and chart appear in Garmin Connect after completing your activity.

Adding Data Fields to Your Activity

To add this data field to an activity (Hiking, Trail Running, Rucking, etc.):

• From your Garmin watch: Navigate to the activity settings and add the data field to one of your data screens
• For detailed instructions, see Garmin's guide on enabling Connect IQ data fields

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Changelog

Version 1.8.1

• Changed: Garmin connect also displays difficulty value as an integer.

Version 1.8.0

• Fixed: the field on some watches will always display 0, even if correct data is written into FIT / Garmin Connect.
• Changed: the difficulty field is now stored as integer in FIT file, twice reducing the data size needed to store it.
• Changed: recompiling the data field with 8.4.1 Connect IQ SDK

Version 1.7.0

• Added: support for fēnix® 8 Pro, Instinct® Crossover AMOLED and Venu® 4.

Version 1.6.0

• Added: support for Forerunner® 570 and Forerunner® 970.

Version 1.5.0

• Changed: difficulty is stored and displayed in Garmin Connect as a float number. The realtime data field still shows difficulty as an integer for simplicity.

Version 1.2.0

• Added: storing current difficulty once per second making a chart possible
• Changed: field name was shortened from "Hiking Difficulty" to "Difficulty" to better fit multifields data screen

Version 1.1.0

• Added: support for Descent™ MK3, Enduro™ 3, fēnix® 7 Pro, fēnix® 8, fēnix® E, Instinct® 3, Instinct® E
• Fixed: compilation fixes for newer Connect IQ SDK

Version 1.0.0

• Added: release for all current devices with barometer to measure elevation gain during the hike
• Changed: Moving strings into resources

Version 0.2.0

• Beta release for epix 2 / epix 2 Pro models only