This study explores encounters, norms and perceived crowding and their interrelationships in a non-North American backcountry recreational context. In 2005, visitors to Chilai mountain trails of Taroko National Park of Taiwan are surveyed. Using an on-site survey, 475 usable questionnaires are obtained. The survey results demonstrate that most hikers (57.5 %) reported a personal encounter norm. Almost 60 % of respondents say they feel somewhat crowded, crowded, and very crowded. The norm intensity is not salient and the degree of consensus among the sample is not crystallized. When reported encounters exceed hikers' personal norm, their perceived crowding level increases. This study draws three primary conclusions. First, while personal encounter norms prevail, the social encounter norms are not crystallized. Second, the encounter-norm-crowding relationship can be generalized, even to a non-North American recreational context. Finally, the norms for encounters during a backcountry experience are not as low as in North American literature. Research implications are discussed as well.