The Gothic Rd winter closure begins where the road turns to dirt in the summer, at the Snodgrass trailhead. Yes, the ridge we followed is probably the best way to access the “white bowl” that you speak of, although I think it’s more west than you speak of…. it’s on the west side of the bowl I think you are talking about. The ridge we went up can be viewed in the first pic. It’s the ridge to the right of the bowl in the picture.