New to Diamond Mountain? Here is all that you need to be prepared.

Lower Campus at sunrise
Prepare for your visit

Thank you for your interest in visiting Diamond Mountain.  We are delighted you will be joining us soon! Diamond Mountain is located in a remote area in the high mountains with the nearest town and services 45 minutes away – making it the perfect location for meditation retreats and personal transformation. The scenery here is breath-taking, the skies are vast and wildlife such as birds, deer, javelina, rabbits, foxes, and reptiles often pass through the Retreat Valley.   Because we are located in an environment most likely foreign to you, we’ve compiled this helpful document to help you feel more comfortable upon arrival.

Weather

Diamond Mountain is nestled in the Chiricahua Mountains of Southeastern AZ. Our Retreat Valley, home to all of our retreat houses, has an average elevation of 5,000 feet or 1,500 meters. We are blessed with a diversity of succulent plants and wildlife due to our geographical location between the Sonoran and Chiricahuan Mountains to the east and west and the Rocky and Sierra Madre Mountain Ranges to the north and south.

Temperatures will shift 30-40℉ (15-25℃ ) within a single day, nights and mornings being cooler than mid-day when the sun is high. Therefore, it is important to dress in layers and bring warm clothes during the winter months (October-May).

The March, April and October, November months are our most temperate months, with daily highs averaging 80℉ (27℃) and daily lows averaging 40℉ (4℃).

Summer is the time for long days, short nights and lots of hot sunshine. Decidedly cooler than cities like Tucson and Phoenix, the warm summer days have cool nights due to our high altitude location. One of the most exciting times of the year, our monsoon season, runs from July through September where we will receive 75% of our annual rainfall in dramatic summer outbursts that leave behind rainbows on our hilltops.

Houses

Our retreat houses were built specifically for long meditation retreat and each home has been blessed by years of meditation on Love and Emptiness. They all have full kitchens and baths so that you don't have to rely on group services allowing you the private space to go deeper in your retreat.

Most of our 27 retreat homes are off-the-grid boasting solar power, solar or propane heated water, filtered well water and composting toilets. Because of this, you will begin to feel a deep connection to the natural rhythms and cycles of nature.  The Retreat Valley is very quiet and serene, perfect for personal reflection, contemplation and renewal.

If you are unsure how to use anything in your retreat house, please do not hesitate to ask a Diamond Mountain Staff member.  It is our pleasure to serve you and ensure that you have everything you need.

Electrical

Most of our retreat houses are off-the-grid, meaning they generate their electricity from the sun via solar panels and many of the houses do not invert this to 110v but remain wired for 12 volt use, much like an RV or a boat. On average, our high altitude climate boasts 280+ days of sunshine, charging our cabins with plenty of electricity for lights and small electrical appliances.

Unfortunately, our 12 volt electrical systems cannot support appliances with heating elements (such as an electric tea kettle) or requiring bursts of energy (such as microwaves). These appliances may shut down our power system.

Examples of acceptable electrical items include:

  • Laptop computers

  • Cell phone or camera chargers

  • Rechargeable batteries

  • 12v or 110v electrical lights or clocks

  • Alarm clocks

Examples of non-acceptable electrical items include:

  • Hair dryers

  • Electric kettles

  • Space heaters

  • Electric blankets

  • Rice cookers

Suggested items to bring

We live in a rugged mountain environment.  In addition to your practice items we suggest you bring:

  • Sun protection (Sun glasses, sunscreen, long sleeves and long pants, and sun hat)
  • Layers (Temperatures vary daily 30F and 15℃ between sundown and midday)
  • Comfortable walking or hiking shoes
  • Rain gear (poncho and/ or umbrella)
  • Flashlight/ Headlamp and new rechargeable batteries and battery charger
  • Backpack
  • Toiletries (soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste, lip balm, body lotion, eye drops, feminine products.)
  • Personal care items (vitamins, cold and headache medicines, throat lozenges, face mask or bandana etc.)
  • Meditation shawl
  • Journal and pens
  • Travel alarm clock (or meditation timer)
  • Slippers (for around your cottage)
  • Earplugs and eye mask for sleeping
  • Favorite snacks
  • Camera
  • Water bottle
  • Personal yoga mat and meditation cushion (we have yoga mats and meditation cushions available for your use)

Food

All of our retreat cottages are fully-equipped with self-catering kitchens including stove-top, refrigerator and kitchen sink.  Please come to Diamond Mountain with the groceries you will need for the duration of your stay as the closest grocery store is 45 minutes away.

Diamond Mountain does offer grocery shopping services for long retreats, please email us below about this service.

 

Questions? Contact us via email: or Phone: 520-775-1921

We look forward to seeing you soon!