We caught the gold bug in 2004 during a spur of the moment trip to the Low Water Bridge area of the Uwharrie River in Montgomery County, North Carolina. With a pan, sluice, and shovel the bug bit us pretty hard. Perhaps too hard, it wasn't long until we weren't satisfied with our equipment, and though the Uwharrie River is probably one of the most beautiful places on earth, we really wanted our own little piece of heaven.

Soon we acquired bearing property with a historic lode mine in Moore County, just 30 miles east of the Uwharrie National Forest. Currently we're using a modified 5 inch Keene three stage dredge on our property along with a homemade highbanker to recover the gold used for our panning concentrates, jewelry, and display specimens.

Bearfoot Gold itself was born in late 2005 with the purchase of our first dredge, a stock Keene 5 inch triple. We decided at that point that we had all the pieces in place to make an attempt at turning our hobby into a job: bearing property, equipment, and the drive needed.

Progress has been slow but generally forward. Late 2007 we were able to open our property, Sand-a-Bar Placer, to guests wishing to prospect.

Terri left a job as a Nurse's Aide to follow Wylie in the full time position of Army Wife soon after 9-11. To occupy her time, she enjoyed celebrating her heritage crafting art with a Native American theme. The name Bearfoot Gold is also a reflection of her heritage as a talisman. Terri has been a voice of reason, and wise reason at that, in the development of Bearfoot Gold. After focusing her attention on assisting Wylie in the first days of transitioning from a recreational pastime, she turned her attention back to art, this time in the form of jewelry handcrafted using gold recovered at Sand-a-Bar Placer. She still assists with dredging operations in a support role and is hostess to guests visiting to prospect. Terri also holds the honor of finding the first nugget they found, something she reminds Wylie of on a regular basis.

Wylie joined the Army in late 2001, assigned to Delta Company, 1st of the 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment. His career was short lived due to wounds received during the first week of Operation Iraqi Freedom and was retired with the rank of Corporal. He didn't allow his injuries get the best of him and discovered gold prospecting soon after being retired. With help, and much trial and error, Wylie designed his first pieces of equipment: a sluice and two stage highbanker/dredge combo. The highbanker is still in service today while lessons learned have been used in the recover area of their current dredge. He is the primary dredger with Bearfoot Gold, and couldn't be in a happier position.

One of the greatest joys Terri and Wylie share is the ability to involve their children. Their two youngest round out the rest of the Bearfoot Gold crew when they aren't occupied playing with guests children: Layce (AKA Bean, far right) helps Mom with crafting the jewelry and naming pieces of gold along with having named the Sand-A-Bar and Frog Holler properties. Lucas (left) assists in dredging and upkeep of the properties.

The rest of the Bearfoot Gold family consists of Terri and Wylies best friends: Janet, Kev, and their son Conley (above, center). They have devoted countless hours into helping improve the properties for guests and are Bearfoot Gold's greatest assets. Janet makes sure everyone is well fed as well as protects Wylie from Kev's sense of humor. Kev is a walking detector, having found two Morgan Dollars and an arrowhead on the property. Conley like Lucas is proficient on a dredge and amazingly good at uncovering mineral specimens.