I disagree that smoke cannot be seen at night. On a clear, starry and moonlit night smoke can sometimes be seen for quite a distance. I have observed this many times.
As was stated in the thread mentioned above by Toddy, a small fire of dry twigs, (which is totally adequate to cook over) built in a Dakota hole, near the base of a tree, preferably, a conifer, will be virtually undetectable. I have built them, they work great, and you can use small green branches for a grill over the hole to set you canteen or whatever on to heat water.
Remember, your goal as I understand it, is camping unobtrusively, not evading Native Americans, or Nazis. It doesn't have to be perfectly smokeless.
As was stated in the thread mentioned above by Toddy, a small fire of dry twigs, (which is totally adequate to cook over) built in a Dakota hole, near the base of a tree, preferably, a conifer, will be virtually undetectable. I have built them, they work great, and you can use small green branches for a grill over the hole to set you canteen or whatever on to heat water.
Remember, your goal as I understand it, is camping unobtrusively, not evading Native Americans, or Nazis. It doesn't have to be perfectly smokeless.