Why is the top of a canyon visible from the bottom during a rainy hike, but once at the top, the bottom is invisible because of the fog?

Question

During a rainy hike canyon walls are visible from the bottom (although a bit foggy). However, when I got to the top, I couldn’t see the bottom anymore—everything was just white. Can someone explain like I’m five why the top is visible from the bottom, but not the other way around?

Edit: missing detail, the weather didn’t change throughout the hike. An the Bailong Elevator led to the top so we reached it within a minute or so. When going down by a cable car the canyons became visible again.

In: Physics

Answer 1

Think about it like being underwater. You can look up and see through the surface, but if you were looking from above the surface down, the sun’s glare blocks your view.