Hello,
I am a 16 year old boy planning to walk the
Camino Frances alone this June. Many have told me that they don't think its a good idea to walk it at my age but I really want, and need, to do this for myself. Just physically/mentally speaking, do you think I should not do it? Legally, are there any restrictions that may come about travelling to Europe by myself (I am from Canada)?
Thank You!
When I was 15, two friends the same age as me accompanied me on a 26 day backpacking trip on the Washington state portion of the Pacific Crest Trail from Canada to Oregon. Back then the Washington state section was called the Cascade Crest Trail.
At age 16, the same friends and I spent most of the summer backpacking 14 days at a time through the Cascades and the Olympics. We even did a three day trip along the Olympic National Park coastal beach trail. That was the year we all joined the Mount Rainier Mountain Rescue teams. Between ages 15 and 17, we had climbed Rainier 6 times, Mount Adams and Mount Hood.
At 17, those same two friends and I rode our bikes to the San Francisco Bay Area (Concord). We were gone for a month. When we got back home, we spent 22 days backpacking the Oregon Skyline Trail (now named the Oregon section of the Pacific Crest Trail).
I know what I was like as a middle teen. I know what my decision making skills were like back then, what my level of common sense was, and my level of self preservation, caution, and reliability.
I don't know what you are like, even with your posted descriptions. The specific legal questions can be answered, but not really knowing you and having observed how you behave, I could not, in good conscience, provide an answer as to your suitability to do a solo Camino.
I can sympathise with your spiritual needs and desires. I understand the longings that you feel. But those are beside the point in answering the question about the suitability of your going on a solo Camino. My sincere best wishes and prayers go with you.