I went up there this May. I left manila around 3:30am. Gusto ko kasi pasikat ng araw since I do not want to drive Kennon when its dark. The nlex-sctex-tplex road is a pleasure to drive, so you don't really have to be in a hurry. I took the Kennon road going up & Marcos hway going down. I feel that Marcos highway is an easier drive going down, coasted in 6th most of the time:-)