My favorite tripod is the Vanguard VEO 235CB, a "travel tripod". It's fiberglass, and quite rigid and sturdy. It has a hook on the bottom of the center post where you can hang a weight, such as your backpack, to give more stability. Best of all, when it is fully collapsed it's just over a foot long. Still, it brings a scope or camera up to chest height.
I would bet gr8fuldoug will have something very similar.
Denton,
That's a really good point about having a hook to anchor it down with some weight. I can see that especially being the need if you have chrono skyscreens and some wind.
