Workout keeps auto-pausing when I'm still working out with auto-pause disabled

New to apple watch, but not iOS products (iPhone user for 10+ years now). I recently bought the new apple watch ultra for use on my day to day as well as backcountry and kayaking trips. Just used it on a backcountry trip where i was backpacking 24 miles over a few days in a canyon using trekking poles. Wanted to watch/record my stats so i used the hiking workout in that app but it kept auto-pausing when i was clearly still moving. Sometimes i would hear Siri telling me it was pausing the workout and i was able to un-pause it right away. Most times i didn't even notice it auto-paused and i lost a lot of data. by the 3rd day it was so cumbersome i just stopped using the app. WHAT IS THE FIX HERE???!! i have auto-pause DISABLED and yet it still keeps auto pausing. Was it the poor GPS signal caused by being in a canyon? were the use of trekking poles part of the problem? it was very annoying and I'd like to continue use, but this had me doubting the purchase all together. Any tips and/or recommendations are welcomed! TIA