The first few miles of the hike were heavy going because of the steep incline
We found the film to be heavy going, with a confusing plot and slow pacing
The negotiations were heavy going, with both sides refusing to budge
Trying to understand the technical manual was heavy going
The traffic was heavy going during the morning commute
This academic paper is heavy going; I'll need to read it several times
The journey through the dense forest was heavy going
His latest novel is a bit heavy going for my taste
The early stages of learning a new language can be heavy going
After the heavy rain, the roads were heavy going
This climb is really heavy going.
I agree, the path is very steep.
My legs are starting to ache.
The mountain climb was heavy going
The ascent up the mountain was difficult
Climbing the mountain proved arduous