The man and woman from Salt Lake City were climbing an ice shoot near Red Lake on Saturday, when the woman fell and broke her leg. She also pulled her partner down the slope, and he suffered a head injury.
Inyo County Sheriff's deputies called in a California Highway Patrol helicopter from Fresno for help. The chopper had a hard time because of the wind and blowing snow.
The crew was eventually able to lift the climbers to safety. Both were transported to a nearby hospital.
Officers say the injured climbers would not have survived the cold temperatures overnight.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
