I am planning on thru-hiking in 2016 and my good friend would like to be my hiking partner. I will be 21 when I walk the trail but she will be only 18 (she will turn 19 towards the end of the trail). Do you think that it would be safe/normal for someone so young to hike the trail? I know that it's recommended that we hike alone and just meet people along the trail, but I think that I would feel a bit better with someone I know and trust hiking with me.