I was 7 years old and it was a month before my birthday (December 9th, 1997). My cousins Trina and Gabe decided that they wanted to take me on a hike with them, and I was thrilled. As we approached a break after 20 minutes of hiking, we were surrounded by a pack of wolves (IN VERMONT). Now being 7, I thought they were just stray dogs. After they had us surrounded, the alpha male came near us. I walked towards the wolf, petted it without it attacking me, and they left us alone.