I really think you can make it the top of the Bowl in 30-45 minutes.
What I would do is start down the trailhead to Clouds Rest as normal. The trail eventually kind of makes a sharp left hand turn to go uphill. Well before that point I would go off trail to the right--straight through the woods. That will open right up to the big bowl. Alternatively you can start at the trailhead and just go up the creek bed. When you are done, instead of coming all the way back to the trailhead, I've just worked my way through the woods and you hit the trail.
Especially if its not windy, I think the knife edge ridge at the end of Clouds Rest is not that bad. But my wife refuses to watch the video I posted...
