Ep 1. Ground War

It's another season of gold mining in the Klondike, and the stakes are higher than ever before. In the season 12 premiere of Gold Rush, titled "Ground War," viewers are introduced to the various mining crews that will be competing against each other in the race for gold this season.

One of the major storylines of the episode revolves around the rivalry between longtime foes Tony Beets and Parker Schnabel. In the previous season, Parker's crew had managed to haul in a record-breaking 7422 ounces of gold, while Tony had a disappointing run with mechanical problems and poor weather. This season, Tony is determined to regain his title as the "King of the Klondike" and beat Parker at his own game.

Meanwhile, Parker is facing his own set of challenges. He has invested in a new claim, but it's located in an area that has never been mined before. This means that he and his crew will have to blaze their own trails and find new ways to extract the gold from the ground. The pressure is on, especially since he has a bet going with Tony about who will come out on top this season.

Another crew to watch out for is the Rick Ness-led team, which includes veteran miner "Dakota Fred" Hurt and newcomer Karl Knutson. Rick has set his sights on a promising claim that he hopes will help him make a name for himself as a mining boss. However, he'll have to contend with a uncooperative soil that's full of large rocks that are difficult to move.

Rounding out the cast of characters are Fred Lewis and his son Dustin, who are hoping to strike it big with a new claim that's said to be rich with gold, and Tony's right-hand man, Minnie Beets, who is in charge of operating the dredge at the Eureka Creek claim.

As the season gets underway, tensions run high among the mining crews as they push themselves to their limits in the hopes of striking gold. There are moments of triumph and moments of disappointment, but one thing is for sure: the Klondike will test these miners like never before.

"Ground War" sets the stage for what promises to be an exciting season of Gold Rush, with high stakes, fierce rivalries, and plenty of drama. And of course, there's always the thrill of watching these miners go deep into the wilderness in search of the elusive yellow metal. Will Parker retain his crown as king of the Klondike, or will Tony finally come out on top? Will Rick find success with his new claim, or will he fall short of his expectations? There's only one way to find out - tune in to Gold Rush season 12, episode 1, and see for yourself.